Home » Teesside graduate develops prototype bricks from construction waste

Teesside graduate develops prototype bricks from construction waste

by Sion Geschwindt
Bob Borthwick, Feysal Shifa and Peter Scott with the prototype bricks

Feysal Shifa, scientist at Teesside recycling company Scott Bros, has produced prototype bricks from waste clay material – a by-product of the company’s wash plant.

Shifa succeeded in producing three prototype bricks after the company has spent several years trying find a suitable binding agent.

Currently the clay, known as filter cake, is virtually worthless and is used as BS-certified pond lining clay or inert engineering fill.

The business has long been searching for a practical use for the clay material produced after recycling construction spoil in its £1m wash plant.

Scott Bros set up its own laboratory earlier this year and employed Shifa, a Teesside University graduate, as its recycling innovation engineer.

Feysal Shifa said: “While we need to carry out further research to perfect this recycled brick – a first of its kind – it represents a real breakthrough which could have far-reaching consequences as this country transitions to a net zero future.”

Bob Borthwick, a director at Scott Bros, said: “A number of organisations around the world have been trying to perfect a cementitious product that can be made into a brick – but it is Scott Bros that has made the breakthrough right here on Teesside.

“If we can now lower the production cost, this could create jobs as well as a whole new revenue stream. To have even produced a protype brick is an amazing achievement.

“We have already been contacted by a major UK house-builder which is keen to trial our bricks, along with a company in Australia. These recycled bricks could be a real game-changer for the circular economy as well as the UK construction industry, helping reduce this country’s carbon footprint.”

Image: Bob Borthwick, Feysal Shifa, and Peter Scott with the prototype bricks (Credit: Scott Bros)


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