Bournemouth Waste To Energy Facility
Clinical Waste Incinerator operated by Stericycle (SRCL) and located adjacent to Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Bournemouth.
The plant has a capacity of 8,000 tonnes per year.
The bulk of wastes are clincial wastes from hospitals, but also includes smaller quantities from doctors’ surgeries, dentists, health clinics, residential and nursing homes, and from medical research facilities. The hazardous wastes incinerated include infectious waste and waste containing cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines[1].
Site Details
| Operator | SRCL |
|---|---|
| Site | Bournemouth Waste To Energy Facility |
| Permit No | PP3530XK |
| Plated | 8000 |
| Status | Operational |
Plant Description
The Bournemouth Waste To Energy Facility is permitted to process 950 kilograms per hour and is of pulse hearth design.
Healthcare wastes are loaded mechanically direct from the wheeled bins used to deliver the waste, into the hopper which provides the opportunity to visually inspect the waste before it is tipped into the incinerator charging hopper.
Once inspection is complete, the waste is charged into the incinerator where the combustion process commences.
The waste is burnt at a minimum temperature of 850°C, where it burns out to produce an ash. The residues are then dropped into an ash quench pit at the end of the process before being transferred into a skip.
The flue gases from the incineration process then pass through a secondary chamber, or afterburner, where any gaseous products of combustion are burned out under oxygen rich conditions. This stage is designed to destroy any carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and dioxins and furans produced by the combustion process[1].
The flue gases are then cooled by directing them through a waste-heat boiler before they pass into the final, abatement section of the process.
Powdered lime (calcium hydroxide) and powdered activated carbon are added to the flue gases entering the abatement process to remove acid gases, heavy metals and residual dioxins and furans before discharge to atmosphere from the stack.
The flue gases being discharged from the stack are continuously monitored for hydrogen chloride, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (dust), volatile organic compounds and oxygen.
The incineration process produces two residues; bottom ash and spent lime[1].
References:
- Annual Report 2024
