The “Construction and Demolition Waste Eco Site” aims to turn some of the 14 million tonnes of building waste produced in London every year into high-value aggregates for use in the manufacture of concrete.
Located on a brownfield site in Charlton, Greenwich, the facility will be run by the aggregates firm Day Group Ltd. It is expected to reprocess 70,000 tonnes of waste by March 2004 and will use the River Thames as a major transport link.
Commenting at the opening of the site, Mr Wilson said: “This new development shows that industry can produce both cost and quality competitive secondary raw materials, which is crucial to developers seeking to become more environmentally and socially responsible.
“Given that the industry generates 17% of the UK's waste annually, a more sustainable construction industry will be pivotal to ensuring a healthier, more competitive, sustainable future for the UK,” he added.
 Minister Brian Wilson (centre) opens the new Eco Site with (from left) Hugh Carr-Harris, CEO of London Remade; James Day, director of Day Group and Colin Roberts, chair of London Remade |
The Eco Site has received support and investment from London Remade, the partnership organisation set up to boost markets for recycled materials in London.
London Remade’s chief executive, Hugh Carr-Harris explained: “The cutting-edge technology employed at the Construction and Demolition Waste Eco Site has been sourced from Europe, where such advancements have helped to generate impressive recycling rates that far outstrip those achieved here in the UK. Day Group are operating the facility, ensuring that the reprocessing work is driven to produce a commercially competitive product.”
As well as awards from the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), the project has benefited from the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB), administered by the London Development Agency (LDA), which promotes job creation. The Eco Site has been set a target of creating and retaining 350 jobs over its project lifetime
LDA chief executive Michael Ward said: “The LDA sees the recycling sector as a priority for the capital. Turning our waste into valuable resources not only delivers environmental benefits, but as London Remade is demonstrating, also delivers economic development and job creation opportunities.”
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