Expert: Rob Gibson - 4/24/2004

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi from bendigo in Australia.

Just a few follow up questions to my previous email, which ran as follows -
"Does the UK have much wheat straw ( Iknow it is in the Anglia area)? Do they burn it, and does this cause air pollution in England?

We have new machinery capable of making very high tech yet low cost building products out of wheat straw (also rice straw.) Rice straw is burned in many countries, causing air pollution.

Any information on wheat straw or its burning in England would be much appreciated."

Neil J Harrington
chezneil@hotmail.com
Your answer was -
Hi there

Straw burning or stubble burning as we call it here is outlawed in the UK and has been for about 10 years.  Prior to this law farmers did burn stubble and it was a problem.

I hope this helps.

Rob Gibson

MY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS TO YOU, ROB:

1. If straw burning is banned in England, what do they do with the waste or left over wheat straw now?

2. Is there a lot of such straw left over each year?

3. Our factories emit negligible air pollution - we make very high tech building products (unique) for low cost housing and buildings. We need to access large annual tonnages of wheat straw as our raw recycled material. Do you think this concept would be applicable to parts of England?

4. If so, what do you think would be the best location to establish such a warehouse/factory?

Thanks for any assistance - we value it greatly (we live in an isolated part of the world down here, but our local inventors are really marvellous.)

Neil J Harrington
chezneil@hotmail.com

Answer
1. If straw burning is banned in England, what do they do with the waste or left over wheat straw now?

I don't know (animal bedding?) although I think they plough the stubble in.



2. Is there a lot of such straw left over each year?

Sorry, no idea

3. Our factories emit negligible air pollution - we make very high tech building products (unique) for low cost housing and buildings. We need to access large annual tonnages of wheat straw as our raw recycled material. Do you think this concept would be applicable to parts of England?

I think this is a good idea but I suggest you contact our dept of trade and industry here in UK (http://www.dti.gov.uk/)

4. If so, what do you think would be the best location to establish such a warehouse/factory?

As per 3!

==

Sorry I could not offer better help in this case

RG