RMC Aggregates (North West) Ltd and Brett Aggregates Ltd both submitted proposals in an open to use recycled and secondary aggregates in the production of asphalt.
The grants come from the 15.5m funding WRAP gained from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund in 2002. The government-backed market development agency has set itself a target to increase the production of recycled and secondary aggregates by two million tonnes a year by 2004.
Commenting on the awards, Steve Waite, WRAP’s aggregates capital project Manager, said: “WRAP’s research shows that over the next 10 years there is the potential for 40% of the aggregates used in asphalt to be produced from recycled and secondary resources. These projects will make a valuable contribution in moving the UK towards this target.”
RMC has been awarded 52,950 for a project to use glass cullet at its Dove Holes Quarry asphalt plant at Buxton, Derbyshire. The company's “glasphalt” uses 30% crushed glass, and the WRAP grant will cover the construction of an additional hopper, feeder and conveyor system. The plant is expected to use at least 4,300 tonnes each year of pre-crushed, mixed colour glass cullet.
RMC technical services manager John Lay said: “The Buxton plant supplies asphalt for contracts covering both the M6 and the M60, and this project will serve as a good example of the suitability of secondary aggregates in demanding applications.”
The second grant of 56,400 will support the use recycled asphalt planings in asphalt made at the Brett Aggregates plant at Ridham in Kent. The grant will mean 10,500 tonnes of the 70,000 tonnes of asphalt made there each year will be recycled material.
Brett Aggregates managing director Peter Tallon explained: “At present, asphalt planings at Ridham are recycled as sub-base materials, but now the WRAP grant will enable us to use the planings in high value bituminous applications and realise the full potential of the recycled product.”
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