COMPANY PROFILE - BY SANDRA DICK
Dragon Lane is on a very busy bus route. But if it's as successful as it’s expected to be, the move could be the fi rst step towards MacRebur plastic products being used for roads across the borough – and even further afi eld.
If the idea is admirable, the scale of how it could eat into the UK’s plastic waste problem is phenomenal.
“Take a road we resurfaced in Carlisle,” explained Toby. “It was just 400m long and 20m wide. We used the equivalent of 500,000 plastic bottles, and 880,000 one time use plastic bags for that.
“And it’s not just those products - we used lots of other polymers as well.”
With the business’s attention now turning to creating similar plastic pellets to be added to concrete for the construction industry, is there any risk they might run short of the key ingredient, waste plastic?
“Fortunately for MacRebur and unfortunately for the rest of the world, there is enough plastic waste from only the UK for us to get our produce down on every mile of road, right around the world,” said Toby.
“Unfortunately, our governments and councils haven’t yet grasped the enormity of the problem that is facing us – especially with China shutting the door on taking our waste.
“My daughter will be 30 by the time we hit 2042, when Theresa May has said she wants to stop the use of unavoidable plastic waste.
“It’s not good for the world, but we are in a position we can source the products we need on every single street corner.”
Lego style blocks stack up for Sheehan Group
MANY are now turning to interconnecting blocks to segregate waste streams and meet legal requirements. Often referred to as ‘Lego blocks’ in the trade, they are fi re prevention certifi cated on Environment Agency permitted sites and quick and easy to construct.
Chris Sheehan, managing director of the Sheehan Group, a construction and recycling company based in Oxford, said his fi rm has noted an increase in the number of waste recycling plants using interconnecting blocks, to ensure they comply with environmental legislation.
Mr Sheehan, who produces interconnecting blocks, said sales had increased by 200% in 2017, and 2018 is off to a good start with enquiries coming daily.
He said: “They are used for a variety of storage solutions and their fl exibility have made them popular, but in the past year we’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of clients purchasing them specifi cally to use to store waste safely.”
“Operationally the blocks are excellent, because they enable people to construct waste and recycling storage areas quickly and easily. They do not require planning permission, foundations, steel reinforcing or shuttering, so they represent excellent value for money.
“In terms of hazardous waste, the vital benefi t is they @SkipHireMag
minimise the likelihood of a fi re starting, and if one does it reduces the risk of it spreading to neighbouring bays, or sites. Before building bays, it’s important to conduct a Fire Prevention Plan to ensure they’re constructed to the right specifi cation to safely store the waste involved.”
Mr Sheehan added: “Interconnecting blocks can be used for custom storage bays, partition walls, security blocks, solid barrier and fl ood defence. They are a very versatile product and people are now appreciating the value and fl exibility they provide in the industry.”
Interconnecting blocks are cast in accordance with BS EN 15258:2008 and are quick to install, with many contractors fi tting more than 100m2 per day. The fast installation results in a cost-eff ective solution for customers.
After recognising the benefi ts of interconnecting blocks, Sheehan Haulage and Plant Hire installed a production plant at its Oxford base to produce and supply these to market in bulk. It is one of the few sites in the South East to produce and sell the product.
They produce 10,000 blocks per year - each block is produced in a cast, and is 1500mm long, 600mm wide by 600mm height with 10 studs. Smaller infi ll blocks are also made to order.
www.sheehancontractors.co.uk SHM March, 2018 13
Toby McCartney stands with Richard Branson (Above) at the Virgin Media Business VOOM fi nale, when he was named winner of the Start-Up category in 2016
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