A low-temperature pyrolysis treatment system under development could address several environmental and energy supply issues simultaneously. The Home Energy Recovery Unit (HERU) converts residential waste at the source to bio-chars which are ignited, providing combustion heat as a means to warm water for domestic applications.

HERU’s pyrolysis chamber, heat pipe basket, and waste basket in exploded view. Brunel University London/Mission ResourcesResearchers from Brunel University London and UK waste management company Mission Resources Ltd designed HERU to achieve full pyrolysis of products with any moisture content, without the need of any kind of pre-treatment. The self-contained unit provides efficient pyrolysis of waste at temperatures below 300 °C.

The size of a typical residential trash can, HERU is connected to the water main and drainage and runs off a normal 13-amp domestic plug. The system generates 2.5 kWh of energy for every 1 kWh of energy needed to power it.

Widespread deployment of HERU could cut the carbon footprint of waste disposal in the UK by 70%, say the researchers, since waste collection activities would be reduced.