In a bid to develop a sustainable method for treating wastewater produced by the composting process, West London Composting (WLC), the UK‘‘s largest in-vessel recycling centre, has been selected by AERC (Applied Environmental Research Centre) as a preferred site for carrying out ongoing research.

WLC‘‘s site was chosen for this trial following discussions between AERC and The Composting Company, project manager of the Harefield-based facility.

The project, now underway, involves passing leachate from the composting process through a wetland system. It is hoped that the process, which uses bacteria and plants to break down chemicals in the water produced by the compost, might become the standard industry treatment for leachate in place of the energy and chemically intensive processes used today. At the end of the trial, AERC predicts that leachate, once passed through the wetland system, will provide a non-toxic substance that can be disposed of into watercourses.

Licenced to process over 50,000 tonnes of green, kerbside and catering waste per year and dedicated to partnering with local authorities to help reach government recycling targets, WLC has signed agreements with the London Boroughs of Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent. Advanced negotiations with a number of additional local authorities are currently underway