Diverting Asbestos from Landfill: adopting circular economy in construction – EnTRESS (University of Wolverhampton) and Thermal Recycling Ltd – 06/07/22

Date

6 July 2022

Time

08:30 – 13:00

Location

University of Wolverhampton, National Brownfield Institute, Grimstone Street, Wolverhampton, WV10 0JR

Organisers

EnTRESS (University of Wolverhampton) and Thermal Recycling Ltd

The Event

Asbestos roof sheets account for around 40%, by weight of asbestos sent to landfill, this is not a safe or sustainable approach. Thermal conversion of asbestos waste ensures complete destruction of fibres providing an inert material that can be utilised in other industries. Asbestos and asbestos cement products were widely used in buildings from the 1950s until 1999, when the manufacture and supply of all asbestos products became illegal. Current UK asbestos regulations are designed to ensure safe handling and disposal of asbestos, helping to reduce further cases of asbestos-related diseases. However, as the UK is geared towards adopting the circular economy, it is necessary to adopt the framework for sustainable management and risk reduction of handling and disposing of hazardous substances. Thermal Recycling Ltd diverts asbestos roof sheets from landfill by denaturing asbestos waste using an industrial scale kiln. University of Wolverhampton’s Academics through the EnTRESS and BRIC projects have supported Thermal Recycling Ltd in researching the right technology and processes to eliminate asbestos reliably and cost effectively to produce an asbestos free substance as a sustainable aggregate to be used in road building or other construction products. Agenda 08:30 – 09:00 Registration and refreshments 09:00 – 09:10 Introduction & Welcome Professor Chaminda Pathirage, Associate Head of School – Research, Andrew Stott, EnTRESS 09:10 – 09:30 Properties of Asbestos Professor Craig Williams, University of Wolverhampton 09:30 – 10:00 Risk Management: Asbestos UK Regulations Dr Nick Williams, University of Wolverhampton 10:00 – 10:30 Cost of disposal/safe methods Tony Sadla, Dunton Environmental 10:30 – 10:45 Break 10:45 – 11:05 How Thermal Recycling Ltd denatures asbestos on an industrial scale Graham Gould, Thermal Recycling Ltd 11:05 – 11:25 Circular economy and industrial symbiosis – turning waste into resources Debbie Ward, Cirklo Consult 11:25 – 11:45 Questions 11:45 – 12:15 Tech tour NBI/labs 12:15 – 13:00 Networking and lunch EnTRESS and BRIC are 50% funded by the European Regional Development Fund Programme.