ChipPE chops container disposal costs
An entirely new concept to shred used plastic containers, which could cut farmers waste disposal costs by over 80%, will be launched at the Cereals Event next week (14 - 15 June 2006). The ChipPE, designed and manufactured exclusively by Techneat Engineering, quickly and efficiently reduces plastic cans and bottles to a fraction of their former size and deposits them directly into containers, for collection by licenced waste disposal contractors.
The ChipPE will be in full production in time for the forthcoming ban on pesticide container incineration in spring 2007, reports the system's designer, Tom Neat. "Growers should be seeking an alternative, approved, disposal route now. The ChipPE will provide a reliable and cost effective solution."
The ChipPE incorporates a geared bank of specialist knives, driven by powerful electric motor, to smoothly shred containers in seconds, but without creating a risk of splashback. In trials, The ChipPE has shred the entire plastic container packaging from a typical day's spraying across 200 hectares in less than 10 minutes.
The ChipPE is designed to compress packaging volume by a factor of up to four or five – significantly reducing on-farm storage requirements and helping enhance the viability of recycling operations by cutting transport costs for waste contractors.
"A waste recycling contractor's bag that will typically hold around 25kg of hand-crushed containers, could hold at least 100kg of chipped plastic. Since charges are around £30 per bag, the cost of disposal could be reduced from £1.20 per kg to 30 pence," according to Mr Neat. Arable farms produce an average of over half a kilo of waste containers per hectare in the course of a season, so disposal costs could be reduced from 67p/ha to less than 17 pence, he calculates.
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With The ChipPE expected to sell for around £4000, the cost makes it a viable proposition for individual growers or groups of smaller farms.
"We would advocate operators locate their ChipPE, or any container handling activity, within a bunded sprayer operating area, with a self-contained drainage system that will minimise any risk of environmental loss," advises Mr Neat.
It is essential that operators are chipping clean and dry containers, advises Mr Neat. The ChipPE is offered with a self-bunded drainage tank, into which triple-rinsed containers should be left to drain fully. Any rinsings are collected in the tank and can be safely removed for disposal through the farm sprayer, in the same way as tank-washings.
"The tank also includes an integral compartment for a hazardous waste, which operators can use to store and safely dispose of lid foils before chipping. The whole thing is self-contained to reduce any danger of environmental loss," he added. Growers can store empty containers on-farm under existing exemptions to the Waste Regulations, until they have appropriate disposal operations in place. The burning of other farm plastics is already prohibited.
The ChipPE will be available from early summer this year. For further information contact Techneat on 01353 862044.
