Keltbray supports circularity at its waste facility in London

Keltbray’s waste transfer facility, located at Plaistow Wharf in Silvertown, London, offers a convenient central location for Keltbray and other contractors to manage waste generated from construction, demolition, and excavation activities. The facility enables the transportation and recovery of waste materials, diverting them from ending up in landfills and promoting beneficial re-use.

Situated within a safeguarded wharf, the site is dedicated to industrial purposes and is leased from the Port of London Authority under a long-term agreement. This ensures the preservation of its vital role as a road-river transport hub.

Plaistow’s location enables the utilisation of barge transport for the efficient hauling of materials in bulk. The use of a single loaded barge is equivalent to the use of 55 tipper lorries, achieving both carbon and cost savings. This not only alleviates traffic congestion but also reduces the number of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on London’s roads. With the capacity to load two barges per day, one per tide, the facility effectively eliminates the need for 110 lorry journeys.

At Plaistow, the team actively implements circular economy principles. Inert waste is recycled on-site into aggregates that can be used for piling mats and backfilling on other Keltbray sites. All waste intended for reuse is managed using the WRAP Protocol which ensures it is of a high quality and meets technical specifications.

The facility also adopts circular practices for managing surface water, which is captured and stored on site via a 250,000-litre storage tank. This water, which undergoes filtration and UV treatment, is then pumped through a dust suppression system that is used to dampen down stockpiles in dry conditions to mitigate the risk of dust emissions from site.

The operations at Plaistow are closely linked to Keltbray’s Mohawk Wharf waste treatment facility, which is located a short distance away. Mohawk Wharf treats hazardous waste soils through biological processes and screening to remove contaminants from soils that can then be transported to Plaistow for onwards shipment via barge.

The team at Plaistow have specialist knowledge in testing and analysing various waste materials and support divisions across the Keltbray Group. Investment in on-site lab equipment allows them to undertake rapid testing for heavy metal and hydrocarbon contamination in soils and other excavated materials. This allows for better segregation of hazardous materials and further increases the ability to divert waste from landfill.

William Moloney, Operations Manager for Keltbray Environmental at Plaistow Wharf, emphasises the significance of Keltbray’s waste facility at Plaistow Wharf in our journey to Net Zero:

“Keltbray’s waste facility at Plaistow Wharf plays a crucial role in our journey towards Net Zero. We are privileged to have a central space in London that strategically positions us to serve the construction industry in its journey to a circular economy.

In addition to its waste management functions, Plaistow Wharf plays a strategic role in Keltbray’s fleet decarbonisation efforts. The facility serves as a central hub for electric vehicle charging, with charging capacity future-proofed for ten charging points“.

ENDS