A derivative of the pharmaceutical sector with which we are very familiar, manufacturers of Health and Nutritional supplements such as vitamin capsules are another market with which we work extensively.

Landfill Tax water discount yields substantial savings

For many years, a manufacturer of Health and Nutritional (H&N) supplements in the South West of England had consigned a solid production residue to local landfill, paying full costs for disposal.

In an effort to understand the nature of the waste properly for descriptive purposes, Remsol was able to identify that despite being solid, the waste was comprised of around 40% added water.

Discussions with HM Revenue and Customs quickly ensued and a 40% discount from Landfill Tax was awarded for the water content of the waste, saving around £8,500 a year (at the prevailing rate of Landfill Tax which has since increased substantially).

But that was only part of the victory - Remsol was also able to secure agreement from HM Revenue and Customs for the discount to apply retrospectively going back two earlier years.

From unwanted waste to bio-diesel feedstock

A manufacturer of H&N capsules, particularly dietary supplements containing fish and vegetable oils, had been mixing waste edible oils with mineral oils from machinery on site, and attempting to send this for recovery at traditional oil reprocessors.

Unfortunately, the presence of the edible oils rendered it largely unsuitable for this method of recycling.

Remsol set about finding an alternative outlet, and identified the burgeoning biofuels market as a potential recipient, soon establishing the edible oil waste into a bio-diesel plant located in the North West of England.

Now, unwanted edible oils such as Flax Seed oil, Cod Liver oil, Oil of Evening Primrose and others are all recycled into biofuel.  This move has reduced the costs of disposal from £40 per 205L drum to just £15 per drum, a 62% saving that has also promoted enhanced sustainability.