Powerday completes structural steel works at Croydon MRF
Structural steel works are nearing completion at Powerday’s redevelopment of its Croydon Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
The redevelopment, announced earlier this year, is scheduled to open in April 2027 and will become Powerday’s third high-capacity MRF.
The facility will be capable of processing up to 100,000 tonnes of material annually once operational.
Construction is progressing on schedule, with reinforced concrete wall installation now underway and drainage infrastructure nearing completion.
Powerday Commercial Director Eamon Davitt said: “Reaching these big milestones brings us another step closer to delivering an advanced MRF that will strengthen our operations and provide even greater support for our customers across London and the Southeast.
“This investment reflects our long-term commitment to expanding recycling capacity, improving operational efficiency and providing the infrastructure needed to meet growing demand for responsible waste management.”
Caerphilly begins procurement for new recycling depot
Caerphilly County Borough Council has begun the procurement process for a contractor to build a new recycling operations depot in Ystrad Mynach.
The proposed facility at Dyffryn Business Park forms part of the council’s Waste and Recycling Strategy.
The purpose-built depot will enable the council to process all kerbside recycling materials locally and replace its existing operations depot at Tir-y-berth.
A two-stage procurement process is now underway, with demolition expected to begin in October 2026, subject to planning permission. A full planning application was submitted earlier this year.
Councillor Chris Morgan, cabinet member for waste and recycling, said: “The proposed new facility will help future-proof our recycling services, improve operational efficiency and support us in meeting increasingly ambitious recycling targets.”
The development is being part-funded by Welsh Government and is intended to provide a modern depot while increasing local recycling processing capacity.
Biffa apprentice helps upgrade Ipswich MRF
A former Ipswich lifeguard has joined the team upgrading Biffa’s Masons Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) after securing an engineering apprenticeship from around 1,300 applicants.
Max Thadani, 20, discovered an interest in engineering while helping his father maintain machinery and power tools on the family allotment.
He subsequently applied for Biffa’s mechatronics engineering apprenticeship, securing one of 10 available places. He is now working on the upgrade of the Masons MRF, which processes household recycling from across Suffolk.
The investment includes new glass recycling equipment, optical scanners to identify different materials and upgraded machinery to improve the separation and processing of recyclables. New fire safety systems are also being installed.
Thadani said the apprenticeship had helped him “find a career that I genuinely enjoy”.
He commented: “If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be working in engineering, I wouldn’t have believed you. But helping my dad on the allotment I realised I enjoyed working out how things fitted together and finding solutions when something wasn’t working.
“Now I’m helping deliver a major upgrade at Masons and working with some really impressive technology.
“It’s rewarding to know that the work we’re doing will help recover more recyclable materials and make a real difference to the way recycling is processed in Suffolk.”
Exiled to showcase waste materials at London Fashion Week
Waste management company MYGroup’s fashion brand Exiled will showcase garments, accessories and homeware made from discarded materials during London Fashion Week 2026.
The four-day ‘Root Cause’ exhibition will take place at The Mills Fabrica’s Fabrica X innovation hub in King’s Cross from 17 to 20 September.
The exhibition will feature products made from recovered materials including returned and surplus fashion stock, textile production scraps and natural fibres. It will also showcase the techniques used to recover and repurpose the materials.
The event will include workshops, student tours, an industry panel discussion and a leather customisation station. A daily haberdashery sale will also offer reclaimed textile hardware and items made from recovered waste plastic.
Rebecca O’Leary, textiles manager at Exiled, said: “Most of what the industry discards is not exhausted, just abandoned. There’s no shortage of material in the world, only of the will and structures to look at it again.”
Admission to the main exhibition will be free, with no booking required.
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