How North West companies unite to save sewers

EcoClarity Kitchen Waste Disposal

Eco Clarity’s fat-to-fuel technology is helping to keep the region clean by stopping fatbergs forming in our sewers and creating an environmentally friendly biodiesel instead.

According to The Flood Hub, every year in the north-west, there are 28,000 avoidable sewer blockages – largely due to the incorrect flushing of unsuitable objects like wet wipes and the incorrect disposal of fat, oil and grease (known as FOG) down kitchen sinks.

The build-up of these items results in a rock-hard blockage, that continues to grow, sometimes known as a fatberg.

Andy Peet, Wastewater Network Protection Manager for United Utilities said: “FOG buildup in the drains is an ongoing issue for the business. Along with rag and wipes, these blocked drains cost United Utilities over £3.5m a year to sort out.

United Utilities have also installed orange bins across its headquarters site in Warrington for staff to bring in and recycle FOG from their homes, doing their bit to help the environment and keep it out of the drains. Around 360 litres of FOG have been collected so far for recycling into biodiesel.

“One of our large tankers (also known as Water on Wheels) does, on average, eight miles per gallon or 1.76 miles per litre – so we’d be able to travel around 630 miles – enough to just about get us to from our Lingley Mere site to Balmoral Castle and back.

“Staff at United Utilities are doing their bit for a greener future, and we hope that over time we’ll be able to build on the success of this project and continue working with Eco Clarity to repurpose FOG into biofuel.”

Eco Clarity’s North West FOG Recovery Hub

Eco Clarity, an award-winning green technology company, has recently opened a new recovery hub in Stockport, processing FOG from across north-west England.

“This innovative partnership demonstrates how collaboration between businesses and utilities can effectively address environmental challenges across the region. We are the only facility in the north-west focused on converting FOG waste into renewable biodiesel,” explained Laura Su, Eco Clarity’s business development manager.

“Eco Clarity’s technology takes a waste product and transforms it into something useful, reducing the risk of fatbergs and sewage pollution.”

Eco Clarity works with restaurants and food businesses across the region to dispose of their fat, oil and grease waste responsibly. The company’s chemical-free system separates out clean water, so it can be reused or safely returned to nature, and the leftover FOG waste is sent to its partner to be turned into clean energy instead of blocking sewers or being dumped in landfills.

 

EcoClarity Kitchen Waste Disposal

Argent Energy – Where FOG feedstock is transformed into sustainable biodiesal

Argent Energy, based in Ellesmere Port, converts the recovered FOG into valuable waste-based biodiesel, a renewable alternative to fossil fuel diesel that helps reduce CO₂ emissions

“Working alongside Eco Clarity allows us to play a crucial role in closing the loop on FOG waste in the north west by turning problematic waste into a valuable renewable fuel,” said Jan Jaap Rodenburg, Head of Commercial at Argent Energy. “This partnership highlights the power of collaboration, and we’re excited to be part of a solution that benefits the environment, communities, and the regional economy.”

The north of England is increasingly recognised as a powerhouse in innovation, sustainability and economic growth, and this regional collaboration showcases the power of local innovation.

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Our Awards:

Winner Innovation of the Year.

Winner of the Sustainability category.

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General Enquiries: +44 (0) 203 925 3540

Hauliers: +44 (0) 203 813 8011

enquiries@eco-clarity.com

Registered address: 36 Scotts Road Bromley BR1 3QD, United Kingdom.

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Great Northern Conference 2024

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the Great Northern Conference 2024 

The Great Northern Conference 2024, held on December 3rd in Hull, convened political leaders, businesses and academics to discuss the North’s economic development and environmental sustainability. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced new powers for regional mayors to stimulate economic growth and attract investment, emphasising the importance of local leadership in fostering innovation and addressing regional disparities.

EcoClarity Kitchen Waste Disposal

A significant focus of the conference was the North’s role in achieving the UK’s net-zero targets. Panels explored how the region can contribute to making Britain a “clean energy superpower,” highlighting the Humber Freeport’s efforts in attracting over £1 billion in investments across sectors like advanced manufacturing and green technologies.

EcoClarity Kitchen Waste Disposal

At Eco Clarity, we are committed to supporting these initiatives by providing comprehensive environmental services in the field of FOG waste recovery. Our expertise in sustainable development, renewable energy integration and environmental impact assessments can assist local authorities and businesses in implementing effective strategies to meet net-zero goals. By collaborating with stakeholders, we aim to drive innovation and promote sustainable economic growth across the North from our current locations in Hull and Stockport.

EcoClarity Kitchen Waste Disposal

The conference highlighted the necessity of collaboration among government, industry and communities to build a greener, fairer future. Eco Clarity is dedicated to playing a part in this transformation, offering tailored solutions for recoverable fat, oils and grease waste that align with the North’s environmental and economic objectives. 

Conference summary by the Yorkshire Post: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/great-northern-conference-rachel-reeves-reveals-plan-for-mayors-to-win-investment-for-university-spinout-companies-4901064

Chat to us:

Our Awards:

Winner Innovation of the Year.

Winner of the Sustainability category.

Contact us:

General Enquiries: +44 (0) 203 925 3540

Hauliers: +44 (0) 203 813 8011

enquiries@eco-clarity.com

Registered address: 36 Scotts Road Bromley BR1 3QD, United Kingdom.

Quick Links:

Book FOG disposal slot

FOG Recovery Hubs

Liquid waste carriers

Wastewater treatment plants

Food service establishments

Private waste sites

Biofuel consumers

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Trial prevents fatbergs by turning oil into fuel

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Oil poured down drains can cause fatbergs to block sewers – Thames Water/PA

A water firm is trialling a scheme to remove fats from the sewage system and turn them into fuel.

Yorkshire Water’s James Gudgeon said blockages by fats, oils and grease (FOG) caused “thousands of preventable blockages each year”.

The technology has been installed at the firm’s treatment works in Hull.

EcoClarity, the company behind the system, said it could recover up to 98% of the oil, which is turned into biodiesel to power vehicles.

Yorkshire Water said the blockages, often called fatbergs, “cost us millions each year to remove”.

In 2020, a 1.5-tonne fatberg was removed in Leeds city centre.

“Water companies can spend a significant amount of money on staff and equipment costs to remove FOG from our sewers and send it to landfill, which also has an environmental impact, ” Mr Gudgeon said.

“Additionally, network failures caused by FOG blockages carry the risk of costly environmental performance fines.

The process will be used to treat FOG wastewater generated onsite during cleaning and maintenance procedures, as well as loads from waste management companies.

Liquid waste from tankers is run through the system which removes the oil allowing the treated water to be recycled.

EcoClarity Kitchen Waste Disposal

Yorkshire Water removed a 1.5 tonne fatberg from a Leeds sewer – Thames Water

Mr Gudgeon said Yorkshire Water was marketing the service to the food industry which is a major producers of waste oils.

“It reduces the amount FOG going into sewers at source, preventing sewer blockages and protecting the environment,” he said.

“Ultimately resulting in protecting our people not having to do high risk jobs.

It also enables us to bring in new waste streams and new revenue streams into Yorkshire Water and ultimately that money is reinvested into the business and goes towards helping keep customer bills low, it is a true circular economy in action.”

Chat to us:

Our Awards:

Winner Innovation of the Year.

Winner of the Sustainability category.

Contact us:

General Enquiries: +44 (0) 203 925 3540

Hauliers: +44 (0) 203 813 8011

enquiries@eco-clarity.com

Registered address: 36 Scotts Road Bromley BR1 3QD, United Kingdom.

Quick Links:

Book FOG disposal slot

FOG Recovery Hubs

Liquid waste carriers

Wastewater treatment plants

Food service establishments

Private waste sites

Biofuel consumers

Environment

Partners

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EcoClarity joins Future Humber and the Bondholders network

EcoClarity Kitchen Waste Disposal

We are excited to share that EcoClarity has joined Future Humber and the Bondholders network, a vibrant community of businesses committed to driving economic growth and environmental sustainability in the Humber region. This marks an exciting new chapter as we continue to expand our innovative solutions for managing fat, oil and grease (FOG) waste.

With plans to expand to 20-30 FOG Recovery Hubs over the next three years, we have already identified several potential sites and are currently collaborating with Yorkshire Water on a hub in Hull. Our goal is to partner with businesses across the Humber region who are seeking more sustainable ways to manage their FOG waste.

“Joining the Bondholder scheme perfectly aligns with our mission to lead innovation in sustainable waste management,” says Laura Su, Business Development at EcoClarity. ” By expanding our network of FOG Recovery Hubs and collaborating with ambitious partners, we aim to transform how fat, oil and grease waste is managed across the Humber region. Together, we can drive a greener, more sustainable future and reward our partners with verified carbon savings, showcasing their commitment to the environment.”

EcoClarity Kitchen Waste Disposal

Improper handling of FOG waste can be highly destructive, leading to blocked sewer networks, flooding, environmental pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions. EcoClarity’s innovative approach offers a unique solution that transforms waste into a valuable resource, creating a circular economy that benefits multiple stakeholders, including utilities, industry, hospitality, waste management, society and the environment.

We are excited about the opportunities this brings and look forward to working with like-minded businesses to achieve a more sustainable future.

Chat to us:

Our Awards:

Winner Innovation of the Year.

Winner of the Sustainability category.

Contact us:

General Enquiries: +44 (0) 203 925 3540

Hauliers: +44 (0) 203 813 8011

enquiries@eco-clarity.com

Registered address: 36 Scotts Road Bromley BR1 3QD, United Kingdom.

Quick Links:

Book FOG disposal slot

FOG Recovery Hubs

Liquid waste carriers

Wastewater treatment plants

Food service establishments

Private waste sites

Biofuel consumers

Environment

Partners

Proud to be associated with:

FOG-fired fuels gain momentum

 

 

The energy potential of FOG waste from homes, restaurants and sewers is well known, and technologies and projects that capture and reuse this valuable resource are now coming into play.

Eco-Clarity, an London-based company with a manufacturing facility in South Africa , has developed a revolutionary technology for the recovery of FOG.

See pages 4-8 for Drain Trader’s December issue.

 

Click Here to Read more: Drain Trader December 2023 Issue