Newtownabbey concrete contractor, RTU has officially launched its new industry leading waste recycling system following a £500,000 investment in sustainable manufacturing.
The waste recycler, which is the only one of its kind in Ireland, marks a significant advancement in Northern Ireland’s sustainable construction landscape. It features two high-capacity reclaimers, large grey water stirring tanks, and an advanced filter press, enabling RTU to reclaim over 50m³ of fresh concrete and washings per hour. The new recycler has capacity to reclaim around 7,200 tonnes of aggregate for reuse per year - equivalent to the weight of nearly 600 double decker buses.
Key benefits of the new system include:
Recycling over 300m³ of fresh concrete waste per month, reclaiming approximately 600 tonnes of aggregate for reuse
Processing more than 100,000 litres of grey water washings daily
Simultaneous reclamation of waste concrete from up to four concrete vehicles
Offering a scale and efficiency unmatched by existing local systems, many of which rely on traditional wedge pit methods that fail to recover valuable aggregate resulting in unnecessary landfill waste.
The system was officially opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, in front of key customers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders.
Alan Sproule, managing director at RTU, said: “This investment not only represents our commitment to leading the industry in sustainable concrete production but also allows us to future proof operations and safeguard local jobs. We’re proud to adopt technology that sets a new benchmark for the industry, reducing waste and conserving resources on a scale that few others in Northern Ireland can match.”
