DHL's new £3.8m ($4.71m) waste plant not only disposes of, but also converts waste into energy to heat Gatwick’s waste management site and power the site's water recovery system. The plant could save the airport £1,000 ($1,240.55) in energy and waste management costs per day.
The plant processes food waste or anything mixed with it, such as packaging, cups and meal trays from international transport vehicles. Waste is turned into a dry-powdered organic material that fuels the generators.
“The waste plant turns a difficult waste problem into a sustainable energy source,” said Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate. “We’re confident it sets the benchmark for others to follow in waste management.”
“Disposing of Category 1 waste can be very costly and time-consuming, but our new waste management and recycling system is a huge step forward,” added Martin Willmor, DHL Supply Chain’s senior vice president of specialist services in the U.K.
