Innovative partnership diverts hundreds of tonnes of plastic bio-beads from landfill

DCW Polymers, a specialist plastic recycling company based in the UK in Exeter, has joined forces with South West Water to launch a groundbreaking recycling initiative. This partnership aims to reprocess over 320 tonnes of waste bio-beads, previously destined for landfill, into new water filtration media.

In a first-of-its-kind innovation, DCW Polymers has developed a circular process for South West Water. This process ensures that the bio-beads, which play a crucial role in wastewater treatment, are repurposed into valuable filtration media instead of being discarded.

South West Water operates several BAFF (biological aerated flooded filter) plants across its facilities. These plants use plastic bio-beads as a medium for bacteria to colonise. The system involves air bubbles being blown through the bio-bead filter, providing oxygen that supports the oxidation process. This reduces organic matter and unwanted elements, such as ammonia, in the effluent.

In June 2021, DCW Polymers collected the first batch of over 80 tonnes of used bio-beads from South West Water. These bio-beads were reprocessed into newer, larger filter media products and returned to South West Water for use in their BAFF plants. Following a successful trial that confirmed the BAFF plant's performance, DCW Polymers collected a second, larger batch of approximately 240 tonnes of bio-beads in August 2023, reprocessing them in the same way.

Simon Almond of DCW Polymers expressed his satisfaction with the project, saying, “We are delighted that this innovative solution achieves significant benefits beyond merely diverting waste from landfill.”

Gavin Lincoln from South West Water added, “This provides a sustainable, long-term solution and ensures a secure, ongoing supply of replacement filter media. We appreciate DCW Polymers' expertise and their perseverance in finding an effective circular solution for us.”