Heidelberg Materials has completed an expansion of its Agecroft recycling operation in Swinton, Manchester, with a new wash plant and rail siding.
The company said the facility is now home to the UK’s largest wash plant. It can separate, wash and process up to 450,000 tonnes of excavated waste annually, mainly soils from construction, demolition and industrial sites.
Recycled and primary aggregates
Agecroft processes construction, demolition and excavation waste to produce recycled aggregates, while the new rail connection allows the site to receive primary aggregate from Heidelberg Materials’ Horton quarry in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
According to Heidelberg Materials, using rail for these deliveries will reduce vehicle movements on the wider road network and cut associated carbon dioxide emissions. The site also has protocols intended to prevent contamination of materials.
The wash plant includes drainage and water-recovery equipment designed to capture and recirculate almost 100% of the water used in processing.
James Whitelaw, managing director of aggregates, asphalt and recycling, North, at Heidelberg Materials UK, said: “This significant investment is part of our strategy to conserve natural resources and promote the circular economy.
“The new bespoke wash plant enables on-site recovery and washing of material, turning soil and construction waste into recycled aggregates, helping meet increasing demand for more sustainable construction products, while diverting more material from landfill.
“In addition, the rail link allows the site to supply primary aggregates to the area, while reducing vehicle movements on the wider road network and cutting associated CO₂ emissions.”
The Agecroft wash plant is the second of its type in which Heidelberg Materials has invested, following the installation of a plant at the B&A Group site in Bristol in 2025.