Titanic Fatbergs

The Underground isn’t the only network of tubes meandering beneath the feet of Londoner’s. Over 1,200 miles of sewers silently remove waste from our homes but there’s a problem- a problem not envisioned when the first modern sewers were installed in London during the mid-to-late 1800s. Many sewers are now being blocked by so-called fatbergs - blockages consisting of grease, oil, fat, wet-wipes, and anything else that can be flushed down a drain or toilet. One fatberg in Whitechapel, London, weighed around 130 tonnes, the same as around 19 fully-grown African Elephants!

London’s sewers were originally designed in 1859 and were intended to serve some 2 million people. They were completed 9 years later, in 1868; by which time, the population of London had exploded to over 4 million. Ever since, London (and other large cities around the world) have faced the same issue- keeping up with population growth. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) advised that in the period 2011 - 2015, London’s population increased by almost 470,000 (up 5.7%) and is predicted to continue rising to almost 10 million by 2025. This booming population places additional pressure on critical infrastructure such as drains and sewers which, when combined with the products being flushed or washed away, produce a myriad of different issues deep below the surface. As the population of London and other major towns and cities grow, there will be an increased need to deal with fatbergs be that in removing them, finding new ways to remove them or prevent them altogether! 

Aside from causing blockages which cost around ￡80 million per annum to deal with, fatbergs harbour deadly bacteria such as E-Coli and Listeria, which can case Listeriosis. Whilst in the sewers, the bacteria pose little risk to public health but fatbergs can cause blockages so massive that raw sewage could spill back into peoples’ homes. With leading scientists stating that up to 10 million people could die as a result of anti-biotic resistant bacteria, per year, by 2050 it is clear that systems and processes need to be put in place to ensure this does not happen.

As with many things these days, fatbergs can be repurposed. Argent Energy, for example, collect fatbergs and processes them to make biodiesel. I spoke at length with Dickon Posnett, Director of Corporate Affairs at Argent, who explained that their primary aim is to avoid using virgin oils to produce fuels. Argent do this by 'upcycling' oils from, for example, fatbergs or commercial premises. Argent first trialled using fatbergs when they were contacted about a blockage at a golf resort- the results were hugely encouraging which eventually lead to the construction of a ￡75m plant to treat fats and turn them into bio-diesel.

"We're the only company in the world capable of doing this"

Oils are rated based on their 'free fatty acids' (FFA), the lower being the better quality. Whilst most refineries can take in anywhere between 5% and 20% FFA, Argent are capable of anything up to 100% FFA- again, a world first! This is innovation at its finest- turning a problem material into a viable business opportunity whilst remaining a force for good and helping save waste from ending up in landfill. If more companies took a leaf out of Argent’s book, we could improve, innovate, and help the environment at the same time.

Argent Quick Facts:

• Established in 2001,
• First biodiesel producer in Europe to utilise high risk category 1 tallow,
• Awarded 'Most Sustainable Biodiesel Producer' 2009,
• Trials using Argent Biodiesel start with Transport for London, 2010,
• Won national fuel supply contracts for high bio blend diesel, 2014,
• Won two categories (Energy from Waste Facilities and Energy from Waste Products) at the National Recycling Awards in London, 2017,
• Every tonne of bio-diesel used saves 3 tonnes of carbon emissions,
• Argent can turn a 130-tonne fatberg into around 100-tonnes of bio-diesel- apx 114,000 litres of fuel (depending on the fuel-efficiency of your car, that's anywhere between 500,000 and 1,200,000 miles- more than 5 trips to the moon!).

Our visitors are looking for companies who are actively involved in treating waste water, fatbergs and issues with blockages. This includes organisations who manually remove blockages, use chemicals to dissolve fatbergs, or treat waste water. With over 12,000 people attending, RWM offers a unique opportunity to network, sell, and market products and services alongside key decision makes and influencers.

Aside from the obvious health issues which could arise as a result of fatbergs, the cost of removing them is astronomical with the cost being covered by water bills which, in turn, increases water bills. Consumers are therefore increasing their own bills by not thinking about what they’re putting down their drains so with a little more forethought, fatbergs would be a non-issue.

Finding a solution to fatbergs could be as simple as educating the public to ensure they don’t flush items away which are incompatible with our sewer systems, it could involve investment in specialist removal tools or a different solution- such as chemical treatment. RWM will bring together professionals from various countries, all specialising in recycling and waste management- it acts as a vital networking and sales environment spread over two days. Some 12,000 people are expected to attend with over 500 exhibitors and 350 engaging seminars.

The sole purpose of RWM is to create a networking hub for the profession and to help find a solution to the world’s big problem- waste. For more information and to stay up to date with the latest industry trends, make sure to visit the 350 expert-led seminars & 500 cutting-edge exhibitors at RWM 2018! For your free tickets to attend, click here now to register!

If your company offers waste management solutions, and are interested in exhibiting to over 20,000 waste management professionals attending the show, contact me now on 0117 929 6083, [email protected], or simply message me on LinkedIn.

Special thanks to Argent Energy for supplying information and quotations.