Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has boosted the ecological security of a landfill quarry in Durham as part of key site improvements.
The Joint Stocks waste management project has seen the Ruthin-headquartered company carry out 70,000m² of earthworks and undertake 50,000m² of permanent capping.
Located between Coxhoe and Quarrington Hill, the six-month restoration project for Durham County Council saw the containment cell sealed with 1mm polyethylene membrane and a geosynthetic drainage layer to ensure it is impermeable.
In addition, 30 new gas wells were constructed to safely extract landfill gasses such as methane, a by-product of burying waste, to be used to generate electricity for the national grid.
Jones Bros project manager Lee Daly said: “We have fully sealed and stabilised Joint Stocks, as well as drastically improved the appearance of the former quarry.
“The capping will ensure the environmental security of the site, and through our gas management practices, capturing and converting methane will allow a clean source of energy to be generated.
“The team holds decades of experience in landfill projects, which has been reflected by no accidents or incidents during the duration of the scheme.”
Jones Bros has also used its expertise to install a central surface system and construct an attenuation lagoon, where clean, uncontaminated water is stored during periods of heavy rainfall before being discharged into river courses.
The 4,500m² basin is fully lined with 2mm of high-density polyethylene membrane and geotextile to ensure no water seeps into the soil, with the team additionally installing fencing and gates to prevent unauthorised access.
In addition to its completion of works at Joint Stocks, the firm has retained its place as the sole contractor on a multi-million-pound framework for FCC Environment, one of the UK’s largest waste management companies, for another two years.
Lee added: “Our team’s legacy and expertise across all aspects of remediation schemes means we are in a strong position to continue to carry out these critical projects whilst actively protecting the natural surroundings.”
Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.
The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.
The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced nearly 40 per cent of its current workforce, with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited more than 100 apprentices during the past three years.