SunAggregates' new press turns silt to solid in 90mins
Company unveils major upgrade to its recycling and resource recovery site in Thetford
SUNAGGREGATES have unveiled a major upgrade to their Thetford site with the installation of an advanced, high-capacity silt press – significantly enhancing the plant’s ability to process waste sustainably and efficiently.
The state-of-the-art filter press can transform up to 40 tonnes of liquid silt slurry into dry, pressed cake in just 90mins, reducing waste handling challenges while reclaiming and recycling valuable water. The innovation not only streamlines operations, but significantly boosts SunAggregates’ efforts to divert waste from landfill and support a circular economy in the East of England.
The newly installed silt press employs advanced filter press technology to separate solids and liquids in slurry waste, a by-product of the aggregate washing process. The pressed silt cakes produced by the filter press can be reused in a variety of ways, including road sub-base layers and pond lining, turning what was once a waste stream into a valuable material.
‘This investment is about more than operational efficiency; it’s about taking responsibility for how we manage resources,’ said Mat Stewart, managing director of parent company SunEnviro. ‘By transforming silt into a sustainable product quickly and to strict quality standards, we’re making huge strides both in terms of water preservation and being an integral part of the circular economy across the East of England.’
The SunAggregates plant in Thetford is a cornerstone of SunEnviro’s growing network of recycling and resource recovery operations. The facility currently handles more than 100,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste every year, processing materials into high-quality, recycled aggregates for use in local construction, landscaping, and infrastructure projects.
