High Heavens IVC Facility
The Composting plant at High Heavens, near High Wycombe, was built to a CRS design. The facility was partially funded by DEFRA for Buckinghamshire County Council and is operated by Terra Eco Systems.
The plant was built in 26 weeks from the start of construction to the first waste input. The plant currently process 15,000 t/a kerbside collected organic waste and CA green waste with space for planned expansion to 40,000 t/a.
Source separated household waste and civil amenity site green waste is shredded and moisture added using the CRS Hybelt system. The resulting homogeneous mixture is passed over a 200 mm screen to remove any oversize. The undersize material is transferred using loading shovels to the first barrier composting bays. Here the temperature of the decomposing waste is continually monitored using the CRS Batchtrack system. The ABPR parameters are 60°C for two days twice. The Batchtrack system notifies the operator when this has been passed for the first time. The material is then moved to a second barrier composting bay. Again the processing waste is monitored until it passes the second barrier. Aerobic conditions are maintained using the CRS Air Handling Unit. Air enters through pipes in the floor and is removed for recirculation back through the air system or vented to air after passing through the CRS Odour Control System to remove any obnoxious smells. The material is then decomposed sufficiently to be moved onto the open maturation area. Here the compost is turned regularly to maintain aerobic conditions and allowed to mature to produce a compost that can be used for land restoration or amenity use.
The High Heavens Composting Facility achieved full ABPR approval in February 2005.
High Heavens Statistics
| Plant Design | CRS |
| Civil Works | Mowlem |
| Project Management | Babtie |
| Operating contractor | Terra Eco Systems |
| Plant Owner | Buckinghamshire County Council |
| Funding | Project part funded by DEFRA |
| Plant construction | 26 weeks from start of construction to first waste input |
| Composting vessels | Single door bays with automated retractable roofs |
| Pre-treatment process | Shredder, Hybelt, screening |
| Maturation | Off-site, Open windrow |
| Process monitoring | CRS Batchtrack |
| Number of bays | 10 off |
| Bay waste capacity | approx 140 tonnes |
