Press Release
CLUGSTON START WORK ON INNOVATIVE £50M WASTE MANAGEMENT CENTRE IN NORTH EAST
Clugston Construction has commenced work on the £50m Derwenthaugh Ecoparc, an innovative flagship waste management facility for Graphite Resources.
To mark the occasion Lord Kenneth Baker, non executive director of Graphite Resources, turned the first sod as Directors Michael Thompson, William Thompson and Richard Mair together with members of the Clugston team looked on.
Clugston, as lead contractor, will design and build the facility just off Derwenthaugh Road, Blaydon, Gateshead. The design is split into 4 key areas; a municipal solid waste reception, a steam treatment and separation plant, a light waste line and despatch area and a green waste and transfer station. Additional office and floor space is also being provided for future development.
Using a cutting edge system along with other established waste management processes, the plant will be able to handle 320,000 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), 60,000 tonnes of light waste (segregated kerbside, commercial and industrial) and 20,000 tonnes of Green waste and skip waste. MSW will be treated in steam autoclaves, where it will be sterilised and reduced in volume by 80% - all materials capable of being recycled and which have future applications are then captured and sent on to other reprocessing plants.
The building has also been designed to feature the latest UV odour treatment technology allowing waste to be held at a negative pressure thereby preventing the release of any odour or litter.
William Thompson, Director of Graphite Resources, said “We have been working with Clugstons for over 3 years now to get to where we are. In that time, they have shown themselves to be pro-active, pragmatic and decent people to work with. The senior management team have been tremendous to work with. They have always shown a can-do attitude. I know that they will deliver Graphite the building that we are looking for. We are delighted that work has started.”
Rod Fry, Construction Director of Clugston Construction the privately owned building and civil engineering contractor said “ This will provide an excellent facility to support local recycling initiatives and we are pleased to be involved in supporting the Graphite team.”