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Groundbreaking nappy recycling plant gets go-ahead

Birmingham City Council has given the green light to plans to build the country's first nappy recycling facility in the suburb of Tyseleywill.

Under the £12 million scheme, a plant will be constructed capable of recycling up to 36,000 tonnes of nappy products a year.

The waste will be turned into material which can in turn be used to make a variety of plastic-based products, including cycle helmets, roof cladding tiles and plastic injections for home insulation.

Furthermore, any sludge produced through the process will be subjected to bio mass treatment, with the resultant methane gases used as a green energy source, the company behind the forthcoming plant, Knowaste, has confirmed.

Welcoming the news, local councillor Ian Ward told the Birmingham Post: "This proves the adage that 'where there's muck there's brass'.

"It is remarkable that such waste can be turned into plastic cladding and roof tiles. This is so much better than putting it into the ground."

According to a report in Builder and Engineer, work is due to begin on the project within the next few days, with recycling operations expected to get underway in early 2010.

Earlier this month Birmingham City Council cited the need for improved recycling facilities as a factor in its decision to put up council tax rates by 1.9 per cent this year.

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