Israeli waste management and construction firm M.Eylon Aviv Nechasim has invested in a new recycling plant from Northern Ireland-based wet processing equipment manufacturer CDE.
The deployment represents CDE’s second installation in Israel and its first M2500 unit commissioned in the market.
Recently commissioned, the 70 tonnes per hour (tph) M2500 modular wash plant integrating feeding, screening, sand washing, and stockpiling on a single compact chassis is processing contaminated soils containing heavy metals and other contaminants from a historic landfill site set in a prime location along the Netanya Mediterranean coastline.
To date, over 50,000 tonnes of sand and aggregates have been recovered from the landfill site.
The 260-acre site, which holds 400,000 metric tonnes to be processed and washed, is set to be restored to create space for new residential developments.
Orin Binyamin, company engineer at Netanya-based M.Eylon Aviv Nechasim, says the simplest approach would be to redistribute the material to other landfill sites but that a long-lasting solution yields both commercial and environmental advantages.
“When we secured the contract to excavate the site for the land to be reinstated for development, we were keen to identify a long-term solution as opposed to a temporary fix.
“It would be counterproductive to reinstate this site by trucking vast quantities of contaminated soil and other waste material from one landfill to another – a process which produces a double disadvantage due to significant operational costs and resulting carbon emissions.
“We also saw an opportunity,” she adds. “We could take up a leading role in this space, driving positive change and demonstrating, in partnership with CDE, the potential and value to be unlocked from contaminated soil.”
Binyamin says her decision to partner with CDE was a result of its technical expertise and proven technologies.
CDE business development director Matt Bunting says Netanya is a unique project in that the material to be processed is not destined for landfill, but rather has already been landfilled.
“We engineer solutions designed to divert material from landfill and that is a major focus of ours but an equally important next step – one that we’re taking with the customer – is deploying our technology to existing landfill sites to minimise the material already disposed of to recover construction products that have huge commercial value and can be returned to good use in the sector,” Bunting says.
Bunting says the project has been a resounding success with potential to grow further: “Such is the potential of the material on site that we’re already in discussions with the customer to expand the capacity of the plant to recover higher volumes of sand and aggregates more efficiently.”
The solution, which also features CDE’s AquaCycle water management system, is producing 50tph of washed 0-2mm sand, oversize aggregate, and filter cake.
Jordan McCooe, project manager at CDE, says travel restrictions prevented the company from travelling to the plant.
“Working remotely, we implemented a series of steps to ensure the customer’s plant was installed and commissioned on time including the development of a comprehensive mechanical installation guide for every plant item,” he adds.
Virtual modelling was central to delivering the project remotely.
“We built the plant virtually from the ground upwards using a 3D model and guided the customer through it, which the mechanical install team was able to follow along with whilst working through the guide,” says McCooe.
He adds that the guide and regular contact with CDE’s technical, electrical and commissioning teams resulted in a successful remote plant commission.
“We opened multiple channels of communication to work with the install team. Through conference calls, instant messaging and more we guided the team through the install guide, provided immediate support to diagnose any potential faults, and remotely assisted in the dry and wet running of the plant.”
Uncontaminated material recovered by CDE technology is being used to restore the land. “These materials will never leave the site,” Binyamin says.
