Thursday 12 August

Winners of the recent State Recycling and Waste Management Awards (Small Business), Capel Concrete have revolutionised concrete processing for the south west.

With cleaver ingenuity and research, Capel Concrete have eliminated their concrete waste problem. General Manager Phil Thorpe estimated that about 8% of concrete orders were being returned for disposal.

With a matter of a small investment Phil now uses every item of the concrete bi-waste to produce secondary products. Firstly, the remaining concrete is poured into molds to produce retaining wall blocks.

These are used extensively through the south west with the rapid expansion of a number of councils. The truck is then washed and maneuvered up a ramp to a processing plant.

The concrete and water is forced into a rotating tumbler which extracts blue metal, a solid and liquid soil conditioner.

The blue metal is reused in the creation of future batches of concrete and the sludge elements used as soil conditioners and stabilisers for acidic land areas.

Phil is now keen to explore future business options in the south west.

"With this simple process, businesses can fully utilise their concrete products, minimise waste and furthermore generate additional income," Phil said.

"I would now like to market this innovative idea to other businesses to also assist with the disposal and reuse of concrete waste materials." Interested businesses are urged to contact Phil Thorpe on 9727 1800.

End

For more information contact
Samantha Reece - South West Recycling Co-ordinator
Phone 9791 4699
Phil Thorpe General Manager Capel Concrete
Phone 9727 1800