Wellingborough MP opens Encyclis aggregrate facility

The plant aims to transform 200,000 tonnes per year of incinerator bottom ash (IBA), left over from the energy-from-waste (EfW) process, into EcoBlend, which is said to be a “sustainable manufactured aggregate”. 

Encyclis has reported that the site has created nine full-time jobs on-site and will further support the local supply chain. 

Ms Kitchen said at the opening: “I’m delighted to formally open this facility, which represents a significant investment into our region. I’m passionate about the potential of this area as a hub for business, due to its central location, transport links and strong industrial track record. 

“It’s also important that we ensure commercial activity is sustainable and this aggregate manufacturing facility is an excellent example of that, taking a residual material that would previously have been discarded and turning it into a useful material that supports local construction. It’s vital that we promote a more circular economy in this way.”  

Treatment 

Encyclis’ energy recovery facilities, located in Rookery South, Bedfordshire and Newhurst, in Leicestershire, combusts the waste at high temperatures to produce baseload electricity, heat and other resources.  

After the combustion process, inert ash is left behind, which is then transported from the energy recovery facilities to the Wellingborough plant. According to Encyclis, Day Aggregates then will extract any remaining metals for recycling and converts the bottom ash into aggregate products including EcoBlend, which serves as a sub-base under pavements, footpaths, car parks and roads.   

‘Proud’ 

Owen Michaelson, chief executive of Encyclis, said: “We are immensely proud to be formally opening this new facility in Wellingborough – which provides the region with essential infrastructure to support the sustainable treatment of waste and the recovery of resources. Both of these are crucial in enabling a more circular economy that accelerates the UK’s progress towards net-zero. The opening of this facility represents real action to help meet those environmental goals.”