Another CDE waste-recycling plant for Brewster Brothers
Materials firm drives circular economy in Scotland’s Central Belt with 150 tonnes/h wet-processing system
AS part of their ongoing commitment to help lead the Scottish construction industry to a more sustainable and zero-carbon future, Brewster Brothers have invested in a cutting-edge construction, demolition and excavation (CD&E) waste-recycling plant in Gartshore, Cumbernauld.
Serving the west side of Central Scotland, the turnkey recycling wash system is the second facility to be designed, engineered, and supplied by CDE for Brewster Bros, following the commissioning of a waste-recycling plant in Drumshoreland, near Livingston.
With construction and demolition accounting for approximately half of all waste generated in Scotland, the aggregates supplier aims to contribute further to the circular economy by offering high-performing recycled aggregates for use in construction projects within the Central Belt region of the country.
As Scotland bids to achieve net zero by 2045, it has set out measures and targets for waste reduction across many sectors, including construction. Currently, Scotland is on track to achieving its goal of reducing total waste of arisings by 15% against 2011 levels, which has been strongly linked to the scale of construction and demolition (C&D) activity.
Both CDE waste-recycling plants for Brewster Brothers will not only allow for the repurposing of C&D waste materials but also support the reduction of carbon emissions.
Commenting on the decision to invest in a second CDE facility, Scott Brewster, managing director of Brewster Brothers, said: ‘The expansion of Brewster Brothers reflects the growing recognition within the construction industry of the need to adopt more circular business models. The industry generates 50% of Scotland’s waste, 40% of Scotland’s carbon emissions, and is responsible for 50% of Scotland’s natural resource consumption.
‘With the additional plant, we’ve been able to divert over 1.7 million tons of C&D waste across our two sites. In doing so, we have saved 15,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. With this second plant, we can service 44% of the Scottish construction market, while keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum. All of this has been possible through our strong relationship with CDE.’
With the capacity to recycle up to 150,000 tonnes of CD&E materials per year, the turnkey recycling plant at Cumbernauld consists of an R4500 primary feeding and screening system; an AggMax logwasher; and an AquaCycle high-rate thickener with filter press sludge dewatering system that increases water recycling up to 90% for immediate reuse.
The waste washing facility is also equipped with CDE’s flagship EvoWash sand washing fine material classification system. The implementation of washing technology removes 99% of trash content. Any floating material within the RotoMax is floated off onto the trash screen, where it is de-watered and conveyed onto a stockpile.
The second recycling plant has proven its effectiveness and is helping Brewster Brothers recycle around 300,000 tonnes of waste annually while delivering two high-quality sand products (0–2mm fine sand and 0–4mm coarse sand) and recycled aggregates, including 4–10mm, 10–20mm, 20–40mm, and 40–80mm rinsed oversize.
The recycled products are widely used in inbound product production and applications such as drainage stone, subbase, capping, pipe bedding and cable laying.
Fergal Campbell, CDE’s business development manager, said: 'Brewster Brothers is a forward-thinking company with sustainability at the heart of everything it does. Scott [Brewster] and the team are so dedicated to providing quality, in-spec recycled aggregates to the Central Belt of Scotland, and CDE is proud to be the chosen partner. We are like-minded and passionate about the industry, as we’ve seen through the development of this fruitful and meaningful relationship.’
