UK launches its largest vertical composter

The UK's largest vertical composter, which is designed to help divert waste from landfill sites, has been officially opened.

Owned by Keenan Recycling, the composter is expected to process around 20,000 tonnes of kitchen waste annually and is based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The £3.2 million vertical composter will accept kitchen, garden and animal waste from surrounding areas in a bid to reduce the waste sent to landfill, reports Environmental Data Interactive.

Director of Keenan Recycling Grant Keenan said: "The significant investment which we have made in cutting-edge new technology will deliver major benefits for our local authorities in helping them to meet the EU's challenging targets on landfill reduction."

He also revealed that the firm plans to expand its offices with a further £1 million revamp later this year.

Currently, a team of researchers from the Centre for Research in Biomedicine at the University of the West of England is conducting a project to investigate the type and volume of emissions coming from composters.