Ward unveils UK’s most technologically advanced waste plant.

Fourth generation family business, Ward, is the largest independent metal recycling and waste management company within the UK. Its operations contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing waste and promoting the reuse of valuable materials. Driven by an aim to divert 100% of material from landfill, Ward has invested in creating the most advanced Construction and Demolition waste plant in the UK…

Metal recycling and waste management specialist, Ward, has unveiled its state-of-the-art material recycling facility in Ilkeston, believed to be the most technologically advanced processing plant in the UK.

Following extensive research throughout Europe to find the right plant, equipment and technology, Ward has invested more than £10 million and worked with a range of partners to complete refurbishment and upgrade of its Ilkeston processing site.

Kiverco was selected to design, manufacture and install this large-scale recycling plant. With an increased capacity to now sort up to 50 tonnes of material per hour, the facility can process 150,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste each year.

Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward explains: “We wanted to create the most technologically advanced facility in the UK. After months of research into the equipment and technology available, we were pleased that Kiverco and Pellenc ST were able to partner with us to build the recycling facility and supply the quality of optical sorter we needed to maximise recycling and achieve the high-quality outputs we were striving for.”

“We’ve transformed our existing site by building a 50,000 square foot unit, improving groundworks throughout and installing a new power supply for all new equipment. Large sections have been re-concreted, new drainage installed and we’ve created a new wood recycling reception area.  A brand-new material recycling plant has been built in the new building and installed by Kiverco, including the latest optical sorting technology available from Pellenc ST.”

The plant has been designed to process all construction and demolition waste, as well as commercial and industrial waste, sorting this mixed waste into the separate elements of plastics, wood, metals, stones and soils.  The equipment can recover at least 20 different products with an exceptionally high level of purity from construction and demolition waste, where products such as hardcore and stone must achieve over 97% purity levels.

Extensive research was undertaken to combine the best technology on the market. Ward has worked with a range of best-in-class manufacturers to supply and build the most effective and advanced solution.

The optical sorting machines from Pellenc ST optimise the sorting process, guaranteeing high levels of purity, recovery and throughput, reducing the need for manual sorting. It can pick and sort tiny fragments of wood, plastics, cardboard, polythene and other materials, while eddy current separators, magnets and air systems help separate tiny particles of ferrous and nonferrous materials more effectively. By integrating Artificial Intelligence, the system can also keep learning about the changing material to improve future sorting.

Donald continues: “One of the key benefits of the new plant the ability to maximise material recovery and help us further divert waste away from landfill. We’re now able to process two and a half times the previous tonnage and have a huge improvement in the quality of the outputs, which can lead to offering customers better value for money. Metals, plastics, cardboard, wood and UPVC are particular streams we have improved, which has increased the volumes to recycle with local partners reducing our business carbon intensity.”

The plant installation began mid 2023 and, following a period of testing, it became fully operational earlier this year.

These investments have allowed the company to grow, increasing its processing capacity and maximise the materials recycling, diverting over 95% from landfill.