Chatham Freight Station Limited is located centrally within the Chatham Dockyard industrial complex, specifically adjacent to basin 6 of the north side of the docks.
The docks host a wide variety of industries, from waste recycling, metal fabrication, transport, and timber merchants to name just a few.
The site is bordered to the north and east by the river Medway and estuary, the former approximately 65 metres distant.
The waste treatment facility operates under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2010 and is regulated by the environmental agency. The treatment and transfer of waste is underpinned by two principal working documents that ensure the waste operation is undertaken pursuant to legislative requirements.
An Environmental Management System (EMS) that works alongside the Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) to set out procedural and management measures that ensure the effective operation of the facility in accordance with best available techniques.
Mattress recycling has emerged as a recycling business opportunity in recent years. It has been aided by the greater than four million old mattresses and a similar number of box springs being disposed of every year, in conjunction with growing pressures to better manage this waste stream.
Landfill pressures and environmental responsibility initiatives have helped position mattress recycling as an emerging opportunity within the recycling industry, with more mattress recycling operations continuing to open.
The waste facility accepts and processes waste mattresses, carpets, and textiles for further treatment and onward processing. Waste is categorized using the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes derived from the List of Waste (LOW) regulations.
The following waste types and relevant European Waste Catalogue codes are accepted at the facility:
| Waste Code | Description of Waste |
|---|---|
| 20 02 07 | Bulky waste (mattresses) |
| 19 12 08 | Textiles |
| 19 12 07 | Wood (other than that mentioned in 19 12 06) |
| 19 12 01 | Paper and cardboard |
| 19 12 02 | Ferrous metal |
| 19 12 03 | Non-ferrous metal |
| 19 12 04 | Plastic and rubber |
| 19 12 12 | Other wastes from mechanical treatment of wastes |
The physical description of the waste is generally as follows:
Typically, the waste derives from a 20-mile radius of the facility yet may exceed this as the options for alternative waste treatment facilities of this kind are few.
Whole mattresses are by far the predominant waste entering the facility and require greater concentration of resources to process. Mattresses are rendered down to their individual components in readiness for onward treatment and recovery. Typically, the following is derived from a whole mattress:
Carpets tend to arrive in their original form and size vary accordingly. Textiles have often undergone treatment prior to arriving at the facility which defines their condition.
Mattresses: Whole mattresses are disassembled using a 360-degree mechanical grab. The coverings are removed and placed in stockpile in readiness for baling. The springs are separated, and foam is often removed after the cover.
Carpet: Carpets enter the facility as individual items and may require little processing for separation unless found in mixed loads.
Textiles: Often found in mixed loads and are separated into corresponding material components.
Chatham Freight Limited is committed to improving recycling percentages through investments in new technologies and development strategies. Our principal objective is to remain at the forefront of the mattress recycling industry, adhering to legislative requirements and environmental responsibility.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us: