CRS has launched the Heathfield composting plant, its fifth facility in the UK. Officially opened by Councillor Des Shadrick, Chairman of Devon County Council, the site is the first to feature CRS‘‘ innovative tunnel technology.

The facility is on Viridor Waste Management‘‘s site, it is Viridor who, working in partnership with Devon CC, instructed CRS. Designed and built by CRS, Heathfield is an ABPR (Animal By-products Regulation) compliant plant with the capacity to process over 20,000 tonnes per annum of kerbside-collected source-separated waste. The plant transforms household waste that cannot otherwise be recycled, into a useable end product - compost, through a simple process which aids natural decomposition. The final product will be used in a major landfill restoration project.

Developed in response to the ABPR requirement of one way material flow, the Heathfield site features eight of CRS‘‘ new ‘‘drive-through‘‘ composting tunnels. The tunnels are unique in that they have doors at both ends, enabling waste to be loaded into one and emptied at the other, significantly reducing the risk of cross contamination.

The CRS composting tunnel is constructed on a prepared concrete base and is composed of concrete walls and roof to provide an enclosed and controlled environment in which organic waste can be rapidly decomposed. Waste is loaded into the first barrier tunnel and temperature probes are inserted through the roof. The temperature is monitored continuously using the CRS Batchtrack system to ensure the waste reaches 60 ºC for two days twice, to meet the ABPR.

On completion of the two barrier process the compost is removed to open windrows for maturation. Annette Dentith, Principal Waste Management Officer for Devon County Council, commented "Devon‘‘s Municipal Waste Management Strategy identifies proposals for a number of in-vessel composting plants and the Heathfield plant provided by CRS is the first. We are pleased with the performance of the plant and are optimistic that not only will the composting rates for the local authorities involved increase significantly, enabling statutory targets to be met and indeed exceeded, but that a useful end product will be created for a variety of long term uses."

John Mullett, Development Director, CRS said: "We were very pleased to be given the opportunity to design and build the Heathfield plant and to see our new ‘‘drive-through‘‘ tunnels in operation." He continued "By project managing the construction and the process technology, we were able to build the plant from the start of ground works to the first input of waste in 26 weeks." Through a continuous programme of innovation, CRS has become and remains to be the leader in its field. The company prides itself on being the first to develop and instigate revolutionary waste management equipment and processes