Scottish Water successfully implements ACT’s new sewage recycling technology

Applied CleanTech (ACT) has implemented its SRS sewage recycling technology for wastewater at Scottish Water’s Dunbar and Aviemore Wastewater Treatment Works.

Scottish Water conducted testing for the project to find if recovery from sewage can lead to value while reducing maintenance and power costs.

Said to be its first implementation in the UK, the technology has been successfully used in Mexico, Canada, Israel and the Netherlands.

ACT has plans to invite investment partners in the UK for further development of the project, which produces a new compound of recycled cellulose from sewage that the company believes to be an endless yet untapped source.

Scottish Water head of innovation George Ponton said: "In a nutshell, ACT’s SRS technology is a very fine filter that captures all the cellulose and some of the fats, oils and grease coming into the wastewater treatment works.

"The solids are then pasteurised, producing a pellet material called Recyllose.

"These pellets could then be used as a raw material in paper, plastic, construction, energy and other industries.

"Using Recyllose can substantially reduce the amount of sewage sludge produced, which is good news as we can run the plant using less power, reduce sludge tankering frequency and cut down the plant maintenance requirements as a result of less solids getting through.

"The ACT system also reduces Scottish Water’s carbon footprint and emissions by using less power and resources, and increases the lifespan of the equipment we use to treat wastewater.

"Overall, the addition of the process may reduce operating costs by between 20% and 30%.

"The potential savings are passed on to customers by keeping their water and wastewater charges low.

"By creating less sludge, we also don’t have to send as much of it to be processed at our sludge treatment centre in Edinburgh.

"Sludge is a by-product of the wastewater treatment process and is treated under extremely strict regulations.

"In many cases, the end product of this treatment is a recyclable soil nutrient."

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Image: Scottish Water tested ACT technology to find if value can be recovered from sewage. Photo: courtesy of Applied CleanTech / PR Newswire.