" Roy Hatfield Ltd is a company with a long history of providing cost effective and environmentally sound solutions for dealing with bulk wastes and the improvements funded have created a plasterboard recycling facility which is among the best examples of its type in Europe"
Dave Marsh, Project Manager for the Construction Materials Recycling Programme at WRAP
Banbury, Oxon, England: WRAP funding will enable a major Rotherham recycling facility to process an additional 85,000 tonnes of waste plasterboard over the next five years.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) awarded the funding under the organisation’s plasterboard capital funding competition, to enable Roy Hatfield Ltd to improve its facilities and introduce two important new pieces of reprocessing equipment.
The WRAP funding amounts to 30% of the total project cost for the improvement programme.
Process improvements
Roy Hatfield's has been able to double its storage capacity through the construction of a new covered bay capable of holding approximately 600 tonnes of waste plasterboard.
In addition the installation of a primary sizer ensures the waste plasterboard entering the separation process is of a consistent size, so optimising operating speed.
Similarly a new cyclone and density separator improves the separation of the gypsum and paper, thereby improving the quality of the recycled gypsum powder and producing cleaner paper - which can itself now be supplied into new markets.
Finally, vehicular access to the loading and storage areas has been improved through construction of new concrete hardstanding and drainage, according to WRAP.
Handling plasterboard waste at Roy Hatfield’s recycling facility(Picture: WRAP)
High demand
Roy Hatfield's has been experiencing increasing demand for its plasterboard waste services, and this is expected to continue to increase due to rising landfill tax and the introduction of Site Waste Management Plans for construction sites.
Current estimates put the arisings of plasterboard waste from UK construction and demolition sites at around 900,000 tonnes per annum. The UK’s current recycling capacity is around 500,000 tonnes per annum.
The Plasterboard Capital Support Programme was open to anyone involved in recovering and reprocessing waste plasterboard. There was no restriction on the type of organisation that could apply for this funding and it was open to all sizes of business, from SMEs to multi-nationals.
Mark Hatfield of Roy Hatfield Ltd, said:
“As far as we are aware our plant is now the largest independent plasterboard recycling facility in the UK. This programme of improvements helps us to consolidate that position, providing a quicker, more efficient and more competitive service to our customers.”
Dave Marsh, Project Manager for the Construction Materials Recycling Programme at WRAP, said:
“The aim of the Plasterboard Capital Support Programme at WRAP is to improve the amount and quality of plasterboard that is recovered and recycled from UK construction and demolition sites. WRAP provides financial assistance towards the cost of plant, equipment and infrastructure for projects that would not have been otherwise undertaken, to increase recycling capacity in the UK. Roy Hatfield Ltd is a company with a long history of providing cost effective and environmentally sound solutions for dealing with bulk wastes and the improvements funded have created a plasterboard recycling facility which is among the best examples of its type in Europe.”
Further information
To find out more about the advice and resources available free from WRAP, visit
www.wrap.org.uk/construction or call WRAP’s Helpline on 0808 100 2040.
WRAP
WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be
more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to
minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment.
Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics, Business
Growth, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support), WRAP’s work focuses on
market development and support to drive forward recycling and materials resource
efficiency within these sectors, as well as wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media national Recycle Now campaign for England.
More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk .