The VCU was introduced to the UK at the start of the decade in response to the need to find viable alternatives to the land filling of organic waste.

The technology was demonstrated at the Parkwood Group’s Sheffield site. The benefits of the robust modular design were quickly recognized, and Bromley Council became the first UK local authority to adopt VCU technology at one of their civic amenity sites. Many other local authorities have since followed suit.

The ability of the VCU to help meet the UK’s organic waste recycling goals has resulted in over 30 installations at municipal and privately owned commercial sites.

Often as pioneers of new applications and industry standards, VCU Europa’s successes have included Cranberry Composting in Lincs, the first site to achieve ABPR accreditation. Fairfield Material Handling (New Smithfield Market) in Manchester was the first VCU operator to achieve PAS100 for their product, producing compost from fruit and vegetable waste. Marine Harvest in Co Donegal Ireland was one of the pioneers for the composting of fish waste.

The company expanded into mainland Europe where VCUs now operate in Spain, Finland and Ireland. Elsewhere the market continued to grow. Halton Recycling in Canada installed a 20 chamber plant in 2005, the largest VCU in the world, handling the organic faction from a methaniser MBT facility.