Industrial Symbiosis
Industrial Symbiosis is the sharing or re-using of resources and materials between
organisations and industries, mimicking the way organisms work together within
an ecosystem. Through management of the SISP programme for the Scottish Executive,
SEPA and Scottish Enterprise, Thirdwave helps Scottish businesses implement this
concept to deliver mutual commercial benefits.
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Industrial Speed-dating Events
Thirdwave regularly hosts free Industrial 'Speed-dating'
events around Scotland to enable organisations to meet potential
future business partners, to identify opportunities and
to put Industrial Symbiosis into practice. Events regularly
attract 30 to 40 businesses, whose representatives openly
discuss resources, problems and ideas.
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Comments received from recent
events:
"A big thank-you and congratulations for an excellent event;
the work of SISP is pivotal to a sustainable Scotland." DSM
Nutritional Products
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"An absolutely excellent way to spend half a day; I especially liked the enthusiasm that everybody had for the subject despite the diversity of their respective backgrounds." Cyrill Sweett
"A more intimate and effective networking experience
than offered at other events." Scottish Water
Waste Services |
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Real
Results
Industrial Symbiosis is not just a concept but delivers
real commercial benefits to business. The following three
examples highlight the diversity of Industrial Symbiosis.
For further examples see SISP >> |
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Aggregates recycling
One of the simplest and most effective synergies facilitated
by Thirdwave through SISP involves the re-use of over
20,000 tonnes of material excavated by Falkirk Council.
The material is reprocessed by Tarmac Recycling at a
neighbouring site to a specification which allows the
Council to use the output as secondary aggregates in
development projects and road construction. This synergy
comes as a result of Falkirk Council meeting Encore |
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| Environmental Aggregates at a SISP Industrial Speed-dating Event in January 2004. These initial discussions explored the potential for recycling existing excavation waste, which has led to on-going trials to achieve this goal. |
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Scallop Shells
Based on our earlier success, Scottish Enterprise Dumfries
and Galloway employed Thirdwave to investigate unique
re-use options for the many shellfish processors in
the region. Introduction of the Animal By Products Regulations
has banned the disposal of shellfish waste in landfill.
Whilst some of the more innovative possibilities are
still being investigated, 5,000 tonnes of scallop shells
are currently being used by the Forestry Commission
as an alternative to virgin aggregate for forest path
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| construction. In addition to the £25,000 annual savings realised by the shellfish processor, there have been significant ecological improvements in the forests the calcium carbonate in the shells is de-acidifying the soil! |
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| Municipal waste generates energy
Thirdwave has been active in the promotion of the Swedish
technology reCulture, which converts Municipal Solid
Waste (MSW) to clean burning fuel for many years. Specific
research undertaken by Thirdwave has made every council
in the UK aware of the system and it's benefits. Whilst
some Local Authorities were interested in this innovative
system, it has been waste management firms that have
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recognised its potential. reCulture is now in the process of signing a deal with a prominent Scottish recycling company, after Thirdwave initiated a meeting between the two parties. Once up and running, 100,000 tonnes of waste will be converted into 60,000 tonnes of fuel. This will also provide councils with a sustainable method to meet their landfill avoidance targets.
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Examples of work in Industrial Symbiosis by Thirdwave >> |
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