A higher purpose
Researchers at the School of Computing and Technology at the University of East London, working with environmental consultants Nustone, have setup an industrial-scale pilot plant that uses waste household materials, dredge sludge, treated sewage and incinerator bottom ash to produce building materials.
The plant uses the energy produced by the sewage to roast the mixture of waste materials into coated pellets that can be used for many purposes, from making simple concrete blocks to multi-storey buildings.
The researchers say it could cut waste to landfill in the UK by up to 70 per cent if adopted on an industrial level.