Coastal Recycling Set To Turn Non-recyclable Waste Into Alternative Fuel

Independent waste management business Coastal Recycling is set to become the first in Devon to turn waste once destined for landfill or low-level incineration into coal-replacing fuel.

Using two XO22 Advetec digesters, Coastal will turn around 5,200 tonnes of non-recyclable waste each year into Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) at its processing site in Torrington, Northern Devon.

The biotechnology system will operate at total capacity, processing up to 20 tonnes of non-recyclable waste on-site daily and creating 10 tonnes of SRF daily.

Investment in this technology will help Coastal offer environmental improvements to its 1,600 customers across Devon. In addition to diverting waste from landfill or Energy from Waste (EfW) plants and turning it into a commodity as a coal alternative, Advetec’s technology also reduces non-recyclable waste’s carbon emissions and its mass and volume by 50% and 70%, which means fewer collections and reduced road miles each week.

Emily Delve, Group Commercial Director at Coastal Recycling, said: “Advetec’s technology allows us to offer more options to our customers in the move to decarbonisation, and we’re proud to bring this innovation to Devon. By innovating in this way, we are helping customers reduce their carbon footprint and doing our bit for the communities we’re part of.“

Lee Knott, chief executive of Advetec, which works with several waste handlers across the UK, including Max Recycle, J Witt Recycling and Go4Greener, said: “Coastal is a forward-thinking business with an appetite to do things differently. As the first in Devon to invest in an Advetec system featuring two units in one location, we consider them waste innovators. Our XO system will build greater waste-handling capacity into their operations and provide greater control over costs. We’re delighted to count them among our clients.

“40% of UK waste cannot be recycled. This waste is traditionally sent to landfill or for low-level incineration. However, increasing gate fees, waste-related taxes and restrictions mean these routes are no longer sustainable. Change is needed. We have had a resounding response to our biotechnology because waste handlers urgently need to innovate, stabilise costs and help customers with carbon reduction.”

The eight-year contract with biotechnology business Advetec is the latest in Coastal’s waste innovation activities, which include using infrared technology to separate plastics more efficiently and Star Screen machines to process cardboard more quickly. Last year, Coastal won an award for Sustainability at the Exeter Living Awards and was highly commended in the sustainability category at the Exeter Property Awards. In 2024, Coastal Recycling won the Sustainable Business Award at the North Devon Business Awards as well as North Devon Business of the Year.