MGL Group to commission new C&D waste-recycling plant
Circular economy boost for North East region as recycling firm invests in CDE waste washing plant
MGL Group, one of the largest privately-owned civil engineering and demolition companies in the North of England, are set to commission a new construction and demolition (C&D) waste-recycling plant – designed, engineered, and supplied by global wet-processing equipment experts CDE.
In a region with diminishing primary sand and gravel resources, a long-term strategy to guarantee a steady supply of sustainably sourced construction materials is essential to meet rising demand.
To address the needs of the local aggregates market, family-owned MGL Group have invested in a new cutting-edge C&D waste washing plant capable of processing 160 tonnes per hour, which will be installed at the business’s Newburn recycling depot in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The ‘Geordie’ city is known to contain small pockets of sand and gravel deposits, most of which are of low quality and are poorly located making their extraction unfeasible and the environmental impact of such activities unacceptable.
Mark Davison, joint chief executive of MGL Group, commented: ‘We aim to enhance our waste-management capabilities by diverting high-value material from landfill and returning that quality recycled sand and aggregate to good use in the construction industry.
‘CDE impressed us with their expertise and deep understanding of our needs, instilling real confidence in us with their commitment to engineering a solution that will help us strengthen our environmental commitments and deliver even greater social value for the North East.’
Between 2019 and 2021, regional aggregate studies found sales of recycled aggregates rose by approximately 21% across Tyne and Wear with a three-year average of 324,000 tonnes. Mr Davison added: ‘Recycling and reusing materials will achieve significant carbon savings. It will help us to greatly reduce our overall carbon footprint and it will play an instrumental role on our pathway to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.’
According to data from the 2019 Aggregate Minerals Survey for England and Wales, the North East consumed 7.5 million tonnes of primary aggregate compared to sales totalling 7.3 million tonnes, making the region a net importer of mineral resources.
Mike Bibby, CDE’s business development manager, said: ‘In a region where the availability of natural reserves is in decline, it is becoming increasingly evident that we need to adopt a circular approach to C&D waste to channel back into the industry as much available material as possible. Yes, that means having to process more and more challenging material, however, CDE’s proven waste-recycling solutions are up to the task.
‘The solution we have engineered for MGL Group will support the business to reduce its reliance on virgin sand and aggregate while ensuring a steady supply of materials to the industry, and it will help the business to produce those materials closer to the source to minimize haulage costs.’
