(Ecofin Agency) - Interwaste has inaugurated South Africa’s first refuse-derived-fuel (RDF) plant, which makes fuel from nonrecyclable materials, such as plastic, in so doing decreasing waste to landfill.

“In line with global best practice, Interwaste continually invests in innovative solutions that have the most environmentally sound waste management [practices] at its core. It is with this in mind and with a strong focus on aiding our customers to reduce operational expenses, while acting responsibly towards the environment, that we commissioned the RDF plant,” Interwaste CEO Allan Willcocks said at the launch.

The plant was imported from China in 2015 and is situated at the company’s depot in Germiston, Gauteng. The plant produces a solid fuel in the form of extruded logs and pellets, as well as shredded and bailed fluff, to European standards.

The aim of the plant which is the first of four lines is estimated to transform at best 12 000 tpy of waste into substitute fuel for usage in the South African manufacturing sector, thereby assisting in improving the country’s reliance on carbon-based electricity generation.

“RDF involved the combustible fraction of nonhazardous dry industrial and municipal waste, which [could] be extracted and used as fuel,” Mike Nicholls, Interwaste technical services director said.

He added that Interwaste analyzed the European model for RDF especially in the UK and it discovered that South African waste disposal costs around R200 per tons, while its R2 000 per tons in UK due to extra landfill taxes charged against companies, Engineering news reports.

Anita Fatunji