Manufacturers urged to invest in water efficiency

Recycling water will be the next key focus area for food processors, claimed speakers at last week’s Food and Beverage 2007 conference.

“It’s the carbon footprint today and water tomorrow,” said McCain’s director of corporate affairs Bill Bartlett. “We need to set targets to reduce water usage and help farmers to reduce it.”

James Dorling, development manager of Tesco’s environmental stores, agreed: “Rainwater harvesting is becoming very important. We’ve got a big tank in our Wick branch [in Scotland] that we’re able to use in toilet flushing and partly in carwashing.”

Water recycling specialist Aquaco, which installed rainwater collection units at Tesco’s branches in Sutton, Surrey and Hucknall, Nottingham, said recycling trade effluent and rainwater harvesting were becoming popular within the food industry.

“We’re currently working on water efficiency at seafood and fish boxing factories in Cornwall,” said Aquaco director Paul Williams. “It’s climbing up the totem pole in terms of importance.”

The government’s Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme means companies can claim 100% of the supply and installation cost of a rainwater recycling system off corporation tax in the first year, he added.

Manufacturers are charged different taxes depending on the quality of the wastewater they dispose of, so processors are saving money by treating their effluent, claimed Williams. “The flavour of the month seems to be cleaning waste water and throwing it down the drain,” he said. “But the next phase would be to recycle it, depending on the effluency.”

Water efficiency schemes can reduce effluent disposal taxes by up to 90%, meaning firms can save more than £1,000 per day, he said. “There is an environmental factor, but let’s face it - the main reason companies are embarking on these projects is to save money.”