Colt 800 Powering Newbourne Farm Composting’s Zero Waste

Newbourne Farm Composting in Rockbourne, Hampshire, has taken a big step forward in its sustainability journey. The addition of an EvoQuip Colt 800 screening plant has transformed its green waste operation, helping the team get even closer to achieving their goal of zero waste...

Located in the Hampshire countryside, Newbourne Farm Composting has long been known for its community-focused approach to recycling. Under the leadership of Harry Timms, the site has become an essential local hub for turning green waste into a valuable resource for use in domestic, commercial and agricultural applications.

Every week, material arrives from local skip firms, tree surgeons, and the green bins collected from surrounding towns and villages. Once on-site, this waste is carefully processed and screened before being turned into high-quality compost. The finished product goes back into the local economy, used by nearby farmers and available to the public for gardens and landscaping. It’s a simple, effective process that keeps organic waste out of landfill and puts nutrients back into the ground.

But as the operation grew, Harry and his team faced an ongoing challenge. The composting process naturally produces a by-product made up of stone and other inert materials, waste that he had no viable outlet for. Disposing of this material added extra cost and complexity to the business, not to mention valuable space being taken up on an already tight site.

Harry knew that if the farm was going to stay true to its zero-waste mission, they needed to find a way to turn this waste product into something with value. “We wanted something compact but powerful,” he explains. “The site doesn’t have room for big machines, so we needed equipment that could handle a lot of material without getting in the way.”

That’s when the EvoQuip Colt 800, supplied by Molson Finlay, came into the picture. Compact yet tough, the Colt 800 is designed to deliver big performance in small spaces, exactly what Newbourne Farm needed.

The connection with Molson came about through Tristan Dorey, Sales Manager at Molson Green. Tristan had been in touch with Newbourne Farm for the past couple of years and already knew Harry from a previous job. When Harry began looking for a new supplier, that existing relationship made all the difference. What really sealed the decision was Molson’s reputation for reliable, responsive back-up support, exactly the kind of partnership Harry needed to keep the operation running smoothly.

Despite its Compact footprint, the Colt 800’s screening capabilities made an immediate impact. The machine efficiently separates different-sized stone and inert material from the composting stream, creating two clean and usable products. In fact, the Colt 800 is processing up to 280 tonnes of material per hour at Newbourne, turning what was once treated as waste into resources that can now be reused or sold, cutting disposal costs and creating new revenue opportunities.

Harry says the difference was clear almost straight away. “Before, we were left with a pile of material we didn’t know what to do with. Now, thanks to the Colt 800, we can screen it, separate it, and generate revenue from it. It’s turned something that was a problem into something valuable.”

The Colt 800’s ease of use has made life much simpler for the team. Its compact design and 9’ x 4’ double-deck screen delivers fast, consistent processing without taking up extra space. With hydraulic folding conveyors and quick setup, downtime is minimal, so workflows stay smooth. All of this means the farm can manage more material than ever while keeping the same small footprint and maintaining top-quality results.

Harry says the experience with Molson has been just as positive as the machine’s performance. “One of the best things about working with Molson is knowing they’re always at the end of the phone. Whenever we’ve needed advice or support, they’ve been quick to respond and ready to help. That level of accessibility gives us real peace of mind.”

That level of aftersales service has given Harry the confidence to continue pushing for improvements and innovation at the farm. “It’s reassuring to know that if anything crops up, Molson have our back. It makes a big difference when you’re running a busy site and need things sorted quickly.”

Now, instead of sending residual materials to landfill, Newbourne Farm can recycle almost everything that comes through its gates. It’s a model of how small-scale recycling operations can evolve to meet the growing demand for sustainable waste management and turns waste products into sellable products.

Looking ahead, Harry is optimistic about what’s next. “The Colt 800 has opened up so many opportunities,” he says. “We’re able to do more with less space, reduce waste even further, and keep improving the quality of our compost. It’s helping us stay true to what we set out to do, recycle responsibly and make a real difference locally.”

For Molson, stories like Newbourne Farm’s show how the right equipment can empower small and medium recycling businesses to thrive. The EvoQuip Colt 800, along with other machines in the EvoQuip range, is built with flexibility, reliability, and sustainability in mind, helping operators turn waste into opportunity, no matter the size of their site.

With the Colt 800 now firmly established at the heart of the operation, Newbourne Farm Composting continues to lead by example, proving that innovation, efficiency, and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.