Advetec Successfully Completes Trial To Process Washroom Waste With Biotechnology

Advetec has announced the successful completion of a trial to convert washroom waste into Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) using biotechnology.

Washroom waste collected from commercial bathrooms in shopping centres, service stations, and railway stations was processed at a waste handling facility using Advetec’s XO technology. This waste stream consists of sanitary products, nappies, tissues and paper towels and is generally high in moisture, making it heavy, high in ammonia and odorous.

The trial aimed to treat the waste using biotechnology to produce a good quality SRF, a valuable alternative to carbon-heavy fossil fuels, and demonstrate the benefits and commercial advantage of processing washroom waste on-site at commercial waste sites – reducing operators’ reliance on landfill and Energy from Waste (EfW).

Advetec’s Chief Strategic Development Officer, Dr Stephen Wise, explained:  “After extensive trials on-site with the waste handler, we collected and provided data on the waste’s characteristics, the performance of the XO unit and the quality of the resulting floc.

“The analysis demonstrated that the floc was low in moisture, stable and not at risk of further biological degradation. Therefore, AT4 compliant. Positively, these results determine the floc to be suitable as a good quality SRF to be used as an alternative to fossil fuels. SRF is particularly valuable for industries such as cement production, which is under pressure to decarbonise, plus it’s a more economically viable offtake route than traditional EfW or landfill.”

Throughout the trial, analysis of the waste’s physical, chemical, and biological characteristics enabled Advetec to model the performance of the XO, ensure the unit was set up correctly for this waste stream and optimise the biostimulants used.

Using Advetec’s unique process, washroom waste was shredded before being placed into the first chamber, where the biostimulant was automatically dosed to initialise and speed up the aerobic biological process. After 48-72 hours, the washroom waste exited the XO unit as floc.  Samples of the floc were sent to specialists for physical and chemical analysis.

Sampling expert Alfred H Knight found that moisture had been reduced by over 50%. This, along with additional factors including satisfactory levels of chlorine and heavy metals, deemed the floc to be a high-quality SRF.

Advetec’s Chief Commercial Officer, Lee Knott, added: “The trial results are game-changing for operators that handle offensive non-clinical waste that contains organic material. With such a high moisture content, historically, they’ve had no choice but to dispose of this waste stream by landfill or EfW. In Scotland, the NHS’ offensive waste is even sent to the same disposal point as infectious waste, which is considerably more expensive.

“Using biotechnology, sites such as shopping centres or hospitals can not only divert washroom waste from landfills and low-level incineration but also contribute to the circular economy. It’s an exciting prospect, and with mounting pressures to demonstrate a focus on sustainability, landfill restrictions, new rules around Scope 3 reporting, and the Emissions Trading Scheme-led predicted price increase of EfW gate fees, the trial presents a significant commercial advantage to the operators. I’m confident that the trial will signal the start of some positive new relationships with forward-thinking commercial operators.”