Aggregates standards threaten WRAP-funded firm

DJ Broady Ltd, the sister company of Robin Concrete and Waste Disposal Ltd, has been funded by WRAP to the tune of 1.5 million to install a new aggregate washing plant to process material that would have otherwise gone to landfill.

WRAP provided 1.5 million for DJ Broady Ltd to install a new aggregates processing plant

But, managing director Robin Thornham told letsrecycle.com his company risks being thrown out of the industry's Quality Scheme for Ready Mixed Concrete because his recycled aggregate products are not covered by existing standards.

Mr Thornham explained that current British standards for aggregates are that they should be either 100% virgin material or 100% recycled. However, he said his company's product uses just 15% recycled material.

Excavation
This is because aggregates produced by DJ Broady Ltd come from the excavation of brownfield sites, and material from such sites includes about 85% virgin sands and gravels and about 15% used concrete and brick.

Mr Thornham said the collected material makes a “very good” aggregate and saves the material from being dumped in landfill sites. But because it is not covered by British standards, the company now risks losing customers.

Mr Thornham said his company is describing its product as a recovered natural aggregate and wants the QSRMC to acknowledge the change in classification.

He said: “Our material is over 85% natural aggregate/concrete aggregate and does not sit easy in either category. All testing of our material to date has shown that it is suitable for use. We need to be able to classify it as a recovered natural aggregate.”

Standards
DJ Broady is now hoping that the standards can be amended, or at least interpreted differently to allow the use of such a product commercially. If not, the 1.5 million plant and investment from WRAP could be rendered useless.

Mr Thornham added: “Many organisations will only use companies that are members of the QSRMC, leaving the scheme could decimate a good business that has taken 25 years to build.”

WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme – has said it has worked to attempt some form of resolution for Mr Thornham's company, but said the matter was now in the hands of the Quality Scheme for Ready Mixed Concrete.

John Barritt, aggregates technical advisor for WRAP, said: “Robin Concrete is a member of QSRMC whose accreditation scheme ensures compliance with BS 8500. Understandably Robin Concrete’s proposal to use washed recycled aggregates created a dilemma for QSRMC in that they do not comply with a strict interpretation for RCA.

“WRAP has provided technical support to Robin Concrete to address and hopefully resolve this issue and we believe that this is being considered by QSRMC,” Mr Barritt added.