Cameron shows C&D recycling sector support

Prime Minister David Cameron has visited a construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling plant in Oxford as the sector aims to hit ambitious EU targets by 2020.


During his visit, Cameron witnessed how C&D waste material could be effectively recycled for use on road construction projects.

Under the revised Waste Framework Directive EU Member States are required to recover a minimum of 70% of C&D waste by 2020 and 2013 is the first year that progress towards this target will be measured.

Aggregate recycling firm Sheehan Contractors installed the washing plant in early 2012 and are now supplying recycled sand and aggregates to local construction contractors as well as using the material on the company’s own construction contracts.

Cameron said “I was delighted to visit Sheehan’s construction and demolition waste recycling plant in my constituency.

“The project is something that I whole heartedly support, not only will it make a positive difference to our environment but I hope that it will also help to inspire and encourage more businesses in the industry to get involved in similar projects and to really make a positive difference to our recycling practice here in the UK.”

Sheehan Contractors managing director Chris Sheehan explained that the processing system, designed and manafactured by the company CDE Global, was the latest technology available for the processing of this material providing an opportunity for his company to move recycled sand and aggregates up the value chain.

“This material should be seen for the valuable resource that it is and for the potential it offers to protect long term aggregate supply from a sustainable source,” added Sheehan.

In the UK 20% of total aggregates production is currently from recycled sources representing approximately 40 million tonnes.

Located in the Dix Pit Industrial complex on the outskirts of Oxford, the new recycling plant was a multi-million pound investment from Sheehan Contractors and the firm has plans to expand having identified a potential second site on the east side of Oxfordshire.

Sheehan said: “Our future plans include the development of a new facility which would double our recycled aggregate production capacity in a strategically important location enabling us to grow market share and also play our part in diverting large volumes of C&D waste material from landfill.”

Conor McGlone

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