The plant uses patented accelerated carbonation technology to treat soils and waste materials, with the output generating a secondary aggregate material that is carbon negative.

Grundon Waste Management has entered into a joint venture with Carbon8 Aggregates to become a significant shareholder in Carbon8, the technology provider for the facility.

Grundon’s managing director Richard Skehens said the technology, which took several years to develop, is specifically designed to deal with difficult wastes such as hazardous materials.

He said: “Although the volumes of hazardous waste in the UK are generally declining in volume, the increase in energy-from-waste facilities will generate a corresponding increase in the volumes of APCr.

“Ever tightening environmental regulations and standards for hazardous waste disposal mean that tailor made new technologies offer significant opportunities in this market place.”

The Environment Agency has confirmed that the output from the process meets end of waste criteria, meaning it can be used as an aggregate product, for example in block making.

The first facility is under commission in Brandon, Suffolk, where it will use carbon dioxide to treat APCr. The next phase will be to capture carbon dioxide from the flue stack source to produce an even lighter aggregate.

Maxine Perella

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