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Project title

Reduction in milk solids content in wastewater to effluent plant

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Wexford Creamery Ltd.

Lead Applicant

Joe Costello

Project Abstract

Wexford Creamery Ltd. was established in 1963. It is 80% owned by DairyCrest and 20% by Wexford Milk Producers. The plant which includes processing storage and office accommodation covers 10000 sq. m. It is located one mile from Wexford and overlooks the horseshoe estuary of the Slaney river.The company currently employs 100 people and is one of the most modern cheese plants in Europe.Output consists of approx. 12000 tonnes cheddar cheese per annum i- almost entirely for the export market and upwards of 6000 tonnes of whey concentrate which is sold to a dairy processor on the home market for further processing.Milk usage exceeds 3000 gallons per day of liquid milk. Cream and buttermilk are also produced.The main objective of this project was to reduce whey waste i.e. to minimise the COD and suspended solids content of wastewater prior to treatment in the effluent plant before release to the Slaney estuary.Process modifications were made which resulted in the reduction in waste sludge derived from white whey. This former waste is now processed resulting in savings of ca. 26000/annum.The introduction of chlorine dioxide treatment as a biocidal agent for evaporative condensate which was previously a waste meant that it is now used in cooling tower water makeup milk tanker cleaning and as a diluent for chemicals in wastewater treatment as well as its already established use in evaporator cleaning (CIP).

Grant Approved

�100,000.11

Research Hub

Cleaner Production - Green Enterprise - Innovation and Demonstration

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

n/a

Initial Projected Completion Date

n/a