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)
Read next: Huge TBM en route to East London tunnel project
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
