Powerscreen Aggwash: Earth friendly solutions

Every site is unique and has its own challenges for setting up and running a crushing, screening or washing plant.  For example, when applying to reopen Elford Quarry, Birmingham, JPE Holdings faced a challenge. The company wanted to continue extracting 350,000 tonnes of sand and gravel reserves as well as dispose of construction and demolition waste.

To do this required working with local environment agencies to ensure an ecologically sound plan for the site. Extensive environment and noise pollution regulations meant that JPE Holdings needed the right solution for the problems unique to the site.

During the years the quarry had lain dormant, a hole in the ground originally intended for landfill material had developed naturally into a fresh-water lake where local fishermen had started to stock fish, while wildlife such as geese and pheasant were naturally attracted to it. As part of JPE’s planning application to reopen the quarry, the decision was made that the lake and surrounding areas in the quarry should be retained and developed, in as much as the local council agreed that they were of “ecological and amenity interest.”

JPE’s ambitious restoration scheme sought to re-create many elements and habitats within this location including “open, species-rich floodplain grassland within areas of open water,” a plan welcomed by Natural England. JPE now has planning permission to build luxury wooden log cabins near the Elford site.

The Aggwash system was transported to the Elford quarry in May 2010 and JPE now is paid to receive waste, process it, and then sell the washed aggregate it produces. The recycled aggregate is used for laneways, low grade concrete or asphalt, drainage and pipe bedding. Before the introduction of the Aggwash, the materials for these applications would have come from natural sand and gravel sources, at considerable extra cost, both for the buyers and for the environment.

“Aggwash has exceeded my expectations,” said Dave Rogers, Process Manager for JPE Earth & Aggregates Solutions.  Due to his satisfaction with the performance of the machine, he already has plans to move the Aggwash to a second landfill site in two years where it will be used to process and sell material rather that otherwise would be sent to a landfill.

Following its launch at the Hillhead show in June of this year, Powerscreen has seen considerable interest and demand for Aggwash, not only in the UK but in other parts of Europe and in North America. Going forward, Powerscreen design engineers will be looking to make the Aggwash an even more efficient machine, as technology now in testing is further developed.

For more information on Powerscreen® crushing, screening or washing products or Customer Support please contact your local dealer.  Details can be found at www.powerscreen.com.