Factory plans to use 'muck' to help power site

The business on Birkland Street is one of the largest wool scouring factories in the world

A factory in Bradford plans to use "muck" from the wool it cleans to help power its site.

Wool from across the world is cleaned at Haworth Scouring, leading to a large amount of wastewater and dirt.

The company wants to install new tanks to use the waste for "anaerobic digestion" - a process that creates energy from biological waste.

The plans claim this would help the business move closer to net zero as well as reducing journeys to and from the site.

'Displace electricity'

The company has submitted an application to Bradford Council to install nine tanks and a gas holder at the factory.

Its application states that water used for washing the wool is processed and organic and solid elements are turned into a "cake" with the leftover water sent to the sewers, with the company holding a special permit and subject to Environment Agency monitoring.

However, some organic content which could be turned into power remained in the waste water.

The application said an anaerobic digestion unit would break down more of the organic elements in the wash water.

The company explained this would convert organic elements into biogas, which would be used "to displace electricity and gas currently used to power the site and provide hot water for the washing process".

The business said the changes, which have received supported from the Environment Agency, would prevent 45 tonnes of “sludge” being removed from the site each day.

It added: “This new process will ensure water is much cleaner and is the next step towards recycling and becoming net zero.”

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]