SunSkips plans to save 100k tonnes of waste going to landfill

SunSkips has lodged plans for a new site in Thetford that could save the Norfolk town from shipping 100,000 tonnes of construction waste to landfill.

The proposed new site at the Burrell Way industrial estate would specialise in cleaning soil and aggregate so it can be reintroduced back into the circular economy.

Managing director Mat Stewart said the planned recycling site would be of huge benefit to the local area and the environment.

He said, “We’re planning a modern recycling facility, which would be very good for the recycling needs in the county and help prevent construction waste from entering landfill sites.”

Part of the solution

Construction waste is a huge problem for the environment, making up 62% of the UK’s total waste, according to Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). That’s 66.2 million tonnes.

At SunSkips, screening lines already work to separate rubble and soil, using a series of trommels (big rotating drums) and flip-flow screens (big vibrating sieves). Jaw crusher machines break large pieces into smaller bits for use in aggregate, while rubble washers remove light waste to clean it.

But now, the company has its sights set on cleaning soil in a machine using liquids to get rid of the contaminants that can be difficult to remove once they’ve bonded with the tiny particles.

Affordable building materials are in high demand in England, with the industry suffering both shortages and price rises.

Recycling soil and aggregate reduces the need for natural resources like sand and stone being used in construction and creates a new market for a sustainable alternative.

A growing business

Thetford would be SunSkips’ fifth site in East Anglia, following Stowmarket, Cambridge, Haverhill and Ipswich.

The site was already in use by a skip hire company before SunSkips took ownership. A recent assessment has determined that nearby residents can rest assured that noise is unlikely to be excessive.

MORE: How SunSkips rose to become the thriving skip hire company it is today

The company is experienced in building modern waste management sites with sustainability at their core, after having constructed the Haverhill site from scratch.

Image courtesy of Red Leaf Enviro

Adding new soil and aggregate cleaning machinery further strengthens the company’s dedication to keeping useful waste out of landfill.

Mat said that the proposed new site was a natural progression for the company, which wants to be a part of moving the country towards a circular economy.

MORE: Government won’t help build our circular economy – it’s up to us!

He added, “When you know what you’re doing, soil and aggregate doesn’t have to end up in landfill. We’re excited to be developing this new area of our business and hopefully making a difference to unnecessary construction waste being dumped in the area.”

The opportunity to comment on the proposal expired on July 6, 2023.

SunSkips is excited not only by the plans to move into soil and aggregate washing, but also by the idea of bringing sustainable skip hire and friendly customer service to Thetford and the surrounding areas.