As water utilities increase the beneficial recycling of sewer grits, best practice guidance is currently being prepared for the UK water industry as part of a collaborative Portfolio project.
Over 40,000 tonnes of sewer grit is generated from wastewater treatment works in the UK per year and a high proportion is landfilled. Spring 2011 brought both a further increase in landfill tax and implementation of the revised Waste Framework Directive in the UK. These are driving the need to consider this gravel-rich material as a valuable resource.
This collaborative Portfolio project will present international best practice for sewer grit management. It will deliver a clear understanding of the recycling options, potential markets, virgin product specifications, treated grit quality to suit the markets, technologies most likely to deliver to the required quality, grit recycling risks and associated costs. The best practice guidance is being written by WRc in collaboration with a number of UK water utilities and grit equipment manufacturers and will be ready later this year.
For further information contact Dr Kathy Lewin at kathy.lewin@wrcplc.co.uk or 07919 548552.