The program, called Recycled Glass Filtration Media – The Facts, will be held Feb. 23. During the event senior executives from a host of agencies will hear about a series of independent trials funded by the Waste & Resources Action Programme and conducted by Aqua Enviro, based in Wakefield, UK, have indicated Recycled Glass Filtration Media improves the quality of effluent, compared to traditional sand.
Additionally, attendees will hear how widespread use of the new material will assist the UK in meeting its target under the European Union packaging directive, which says 60 percent of glass must be recycled by 2008. The country’s current level is 42 per cent. 
Full-scale independent trials of RGFM, made to BSI PAS 102 specifications, have taken place since November 2004 with end-users including: vegetable processor JE Hartley, at Thorganby, near York; Croda Chemicals Europe, at Rawcliffe Bridge, near Goole; tissue, paper and packaging giant Georgia Pacific GB at Ramsbottom, near Bury; and Yorkshire Water, at its wastewater treatment plant in Malton, North Yorkshire.
Mark Lowe, consultant, Aqua Enviro, said: “The results have been encouraging and positive all-round.
“For example, the tests have shown RGFM is more effective than sand at removing suspended solids from effluent. This can be a huge benefit where phosphates are carried in the suspended solids. It is well-known that high levels of phosphates have a detrimental effect in rivers.
“The tests have also shown RGFM delivers more efficient backwash performance than sand – with backwash being required less often and less energy being used in the backwash due to the lower specific density of glass.
“Unlike sand, RGFM has also shown no marked tendency to clog up or blind, when faced with high loadings of suspended material.”
He said that a major benefit of glass is that it is a processed product and as such can be sized to treat specific solids types. As the size of suspended solids decreases, so does the size of the glass required to remove it. Current trials are showing that a two-stage filter process with different grade glass in each is providing optimum filter performance.
The results could have implications for a wide range of industry sectors treating wastewater, including heavy engineering, car manufacture, food and beverage factories, and paper and pulp mills. They could also have impacts on drinking water and aquaculture, including fish farming, as well as water used in swimming pools and spas.
Full information about the event and trials is available from www.aqua-enviro.net or by contacting Krista Braithwaite (phone: 01924 257891, e-mail: kristabraithwaite@aquaenviro.co.uk.
Printed copies of the presentations on the trials will be available at the event or from Bronnie Allen at WRAP on 0808 100 2040.