Norwich-headquartered PSH Environmental has unveiled a new project to transform waste into a renewable energy source – using only solar power.
The project comes following a re-investment into a new 12,000 square-foot building, a 40 percent extension to the yard, a new wash plant, and an UNTHA XR3000C mobil-e shredder which lies at the heart of the facility.
The electric-driven XR3000C is capable of processing a range of difficult waste materials for alternative fuels and runs entirely from solar energy generated by PSH Environmental on-site.
A 90-millimetre screen processes grade C wood down to a homogenous biomass product for a local energy plant, while a 130-millimetre screen can be interchanged in 15 minutes, to enable PSH Environmental to reduce the density of other skip, bulky and C&I wastes, for RDF.
The flexible shredder can also handle other products – even those considered economically unshreddable or too difficult to handle.
The plant is now capable of throughputs of 40 tonnes of material per hour, which equates to 80,000 tonnes per annum.
"There will always be waste, and it's up to us to process it in the most efficient and sustainable way," says PSH Environmental's director Daniel Parker. "That is what we are aiming to achieve here at PSH Environmental. Running a 38-tonne shredder entirely off solar power may seem far-fetched, but we've proven it's possible."
Talks with UNTHA about the project and which shredder to use began at a shredding showcase back in 2021.
"We've been collaborating with UNTHA UK for almost two years on this project – once you see the machine in action, you know exactly why you need it," continues Daniel. "From experience, once you press the start button on a shredder, they're on a route to self-destruct. I mean look at what you're trying to tackle with them. But with the UNTHA XR3000C, you can see it is built to last."
The environmental credentials of PSH Environmental's progressive project are further strengthened via the firm's "Clean Up to Green Up" campaign. This sees £1 from every skip hire donated to help restore a square metre of arable farmland into woodland.
"We are PSH Environmental and we take our name seriously," concludes Daniel. "We can't simply talk about caring for the environment, we have to make sure we do. The waste industry is constantly evolving and you cannot stand still. Hopefully, this project shows just how progressive waste processing can be."
