Cornish Business Secures £542,000 for Innovative Liquid Waste Recycling Facility

Photo: The Pellows team at the company’s Carnon Valley facility

A new £1 million liquid waste treatment plant is being developed in Cornwall by Pellows, a long-standing Cornish waste disposal company, with the support of a £542,000 investment from Cornwall Council. This funding comes through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, helping Pellows move forward with a facility that will add critical capacity to Cornwall’s waste infrastructure.

A Boost for Cornwall’s Waste Management

The new facility, located at Pellows’ base in Carnon Valley near Truro, will recycle sewage waste into a dry, organic fertiliser for farmers to use, helping reduce reliance on artificial alternatives. This innovative approach also brings potential for bi-products that could be used for renewable energy.

Linda Martin, Director of Pellows, said, “We are looking to create a vitally needed new piece of waste management infrastructure for Cornwall which will benefit the environment through the effective treatment of liquid waste; by providing farmers with access to a new source of organic fertiliser, reducing the need to use artificial fertilisers; and potentially a bi-product that could be used for a renewable energy source for anaerobic digestion.”

With many homes and businesses in Cornwall dependent on private sewerage systems like septic tanks, there’s a constant need for maintenance and waste treatment. This new facility will help meet that demand by offering additional capacity, not just for Pellows, but for other waste management companies in Cornwall.

Facility Expected by Spring 2025

Work on the site has already begun, with the project involving the construction of office and storage spaces, as well as purchasing specialist processing equipment. The facility is expected to be fully operational by spring 2025.

“This is a significant investment for the business which will allow us to develop new services and products and to increase our workforce. It will also provide much-needed flexibility in the way we and other waste companies are able to operate to support the many homes and businesses in Cornwall which rely on our services,” Linda added.

Cornwall Council’s Backing

The investment aligns with the goals of the Good Growth Programme, which focuses on supporting local businesses and promoting green, sustainable growth in Cornwall. Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for economy, said, “We are pleased to be supporting a business like Pellows with such a long heritage in Cornwall and a clear vision for the quality of service, new product development and environmental responsibility of its future operations.”

Cllr Martin Alvey, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, and local Member for Feock and Kea, explained, “I’m acutely aware of the challenges that Cornwall faces in meeting the demand caused by the significant number of homes and businesses reliant upon septic tanks and the need to empty and maintain them. Whilst South West Water will accept septic tank effluent, this is not a statutory requirement placed upon them and as such, when their systems are at capacity in storm conditions, unless there is an adequate capacity within our private sector providers, there is a real risk to the environment as well as the potential for septic tank overflows.”

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to boost local economies across the UK by supporting businesses and creating new job opportunities. For more information, visit Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme and UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This project is a significant milestone for Cornwall, both for its environmental impact and the growth it promises for local businesses.

Photo: An example of recycled material