Lochaber Environmental Group refurbs in-vessel composter to reduce food waste
03 January 2024
As part of the Highland Community Waste Partnership (HCWP), Lochaber Environmental Group (LEG) are working with the Ardtornish Estate and Tidy Planet to refurbish a Rocket A700 in-vessel composter. This refurbishment is the second stage of an exciting project to allow food-waste to be composted at Ardtornish Estate.
The Rocket was moved to Ardtornish on 8 September by Campbell Pant Hire, and put in a temporary position until final work was completed in the Achranich biomass shed where the Rocket is to be homed.
Dan Harp, Service Engineer for Tidy Planet, travelled to Ardtornish to undertake the planned maintenance and training for the Rocket A700 on Monday 4 December, braving the wintery driving conditions to get up there from Macclesfield.
Dan started the refurbishment with support from John Turner, Kitchen Gardener for Ardtornish Estate, on Tuesday 5 December, which included two new heater blankets, a new control unit as well as renewing relevant parts of the wiring loom and checking over all other operation of the Rocket. It took two days to complete all the work but the Rocket is now back in operational condition and training was provided for John.
In addition, Ardtornish Estate have purchased a number of food waste collection bins which will allow them to ensure all their self-catering holiday lets will have provision to collect their food waste.
John will be planning the implementation of this in the coming weeks so that the service can be put into operation for next season.
Lesley Hawkins, HCWP Project Officer for LEG, and Susan Carstairs, HCWP Management Representative for LEG, were really pleased to be able to witness some of the maintenance updates, whilst talking with Dan to understand more about the Rocket. It was great to hear that Dan thought he had actually built the Rocket some 16 years ago, which is a real testament to his dedication to food waste recycling.
Lesley said: "We are very much looking forward to continuing to work with John and the Ardtornish Estate, to help share their progress but also to provide information, updates and demonstrations about in-vessel composting in the future".
Visit our Working with Businesses page find out how our HCWP partners are reducing food waste across the Highlands.
