Germiston boasts first refuse derived fuel plant in SA

Interwaste – a leading local waste management business – recently announced the launch of South Africa’s very first refuse derived fuel (RDF) plant.

The plant aims to reduce waste to landfill and pioneering general, industrial and municipal waste to alternative fuels, ensuring less reliance on South Africa’s vital resources and resources that are carbon intensive.

The current plant, which is the first of four lines, is expected to see a minimum of 12 000 tonnes of waste converted to alternative fuel, annually, for use in the South African manufacturing sector.

“In line with global best practice, Interwaste continually invests in innovative solutions that have the most environmentally sound waste management opportunity at its core, solutions that make us market leaders and place us in a favourable position within the competitive waste management environment,” said Allan Willcocks, chief executive officer of Interwaste.

“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 and we have launched what is another market first since the business opened 25 years ago – which we are very proud of.”

The plant, which was imported in 2015, is located in a facility built by Interwaste at the company’s Germiston depot, in Brammer Street, Industries East.

It is currently producing a solid recovered fuel to European specified standards, which is equivalent to A-Grade coal.

“Through the commissioning of such solutions, companies are able to lessen their reliance on fossil fuels, which have a high environmental impact, including acid mine drainage and reject coal for example, and as such not only are businesses able to drastically improve their emissions profile, but so, too, are they able to pay back their investment within a mere five years – where the fuel is substantially more economical,” said Willcocks.

Prior to the implementation of the plant locally, Interwaste underwent stringent environmental compliance procedures to ensure all due process was followed and that the facility would operate with a valid licence and the correct environmental authority approvals – which are critical in ensuring sound business practices.

The company has also pioneered the process in alternative fuels within the hazardous waste environment, ensuring that hazardous waste can be diverted from landfill, where such waste is not only expensive to landfill but toxic to the environment if not managed correctly.

“Locally the playing fields have changed, where the implementation of new and pending legislation is forcing companies to move to 21st century solutions, those solutions that offer real opportunity for environmental preservation,” Willcocks explained.

“As such, from an Interwaste perspective, the provision of these fuels has not only opened up in excess of 100 jobs within the sector, but has created a very solid platform from which to protect the environment at large and, of course, is a critical constitutional imperative in line with changing legislation.

“However, we are not in this alone, it is up to corporate South Africa to understand the benefits of such solutions to their bottom line, and the environment, in order for us to make the change we want to see.

“We are positive about the impact of such market innovation and look forward to very exciting times with regards to RDF.”

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