Waste Treatment Plant

Gateshead

Following a comprehensive procurement and negotiation process Clugston were appointed to carry out the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) role for this EcoPark, a major waste treatment project where customer retains the plant performance liability. During the two year procurement and negotiation period excellent relationships were built with Graphite Resources directors and personnel that has allowed the hybrid contract form to be developed. The construction phase will strengthen these relationships as Graphite Resources vision becomes reality.

The facility, believed to be the largest autoclaving plant in the world, will process 200,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste per annum through its three autoclaves. Allowance has been built in to allow a further autoclave to be installed in the future that will increase capacity to 320,000 tpy. The autoclaves work in cycles using steam pressure and agitation to break down the 'black bag' waste to recover 80% of the waste as clean glass, plastic and metal recyclates. The remaining 20% is a fibre that can be put to a variety of uses from use in bricks to fuelling power plants.

The aesthetically pleasing plant is constructed on a constrained site requiring careful works and material planning as storage space is limited.

The building envelope uses composite cladding, curtain walling and barrel vaulted roofs to create a modern clean building that successfully disguises the industrial process carried out within.

Extensive use of high quality precast concrete panels have been employed to separate the office and amenity area, including facilities to be used to be used to inform and educate future generations on the need for waste reduction and minimisation. Similar units are also used in the reception and storage areas as 'push walls' to allow the plant to operate effectively. As the site is close to the River Tyne extensive piling was required. The use of flared heads to the piles has allowed the floor slab thickness to be reduced with a consequent cost saving. Restriction of rainwater run off was also a concern which has been resolved by the use of oversize drainage pipes to allow up to 1500 m³ to be attenuated. Some 7000 m³ of concrete slabbing on the site was also crushed and reused as aggregate beneath the new floor slabs.

As one of the site boundaries is a stream which is home to otters measures have been taken to ensure that both the animals and their habitat are protected from our operations.