How waste management works on construction sites in Somerset

Written by Nick Towens

Construction sites generate huge volumes of material every day. Rubble, timber, soil, plasterboard and packaging all need handling in a way that keeps your site safe, compliant and productive. Effective waste management turns these by-products into a resource rather than a problem.

This approach is useful for almost every project across Somerset, from groundworks and demolition through to new builds, renovations and utility works. It consists of separating, storing, collecting and processing materials so the maximum amount is recycled.

At Towens, most of what we handle is given a second life, with only a tiny fraction (less than 10%), sent to landfill.

Waste Management Somerset: how to manage your project

Efficient waste management starts with treating waste as a resource. The aim is simple: recycle or reuse as much as possible while keeping disruption to your programme low.

Our process follows a clear path:

• Collection Day: We provide skips, tippers and grab hire to remove material from your site quickly.
• Haulage: Our fleet of vehicles transports waste to one of our local Somerset recycling sites.
• Processing: We use crushers, shredders and screening plant to separate soils, aggregates and construction waste.
• Recycling: 90%+ of materials we receive are turned into reusable products that go back into the supply chain.

Each year we process well over 100,000 tonnes of waste, recovering soils, stone, metals and timber that would otherwise be wasted.

What are the benefits of Towens’ waste management services?

A managed approach protects your project, your budget and the wider community. Here is what you gain when you work with us.

Environmental benefits

Recycling reduces the demand for quarried virgin materials and lowers the carbon footprint linked to disposal. Diverting waste from landfill is one of the most practical steps a contractor can take towards sustainable building.

Convenience

We handle the heavy lifting. From booking waste collection to delivering recycled aggregates, our team provides a high quality service that keeps your site moving.

Legal compliance

Waste management in the UK is heavily regulated, and Somerset Council have several rules in place for contractors to follow. We hold the relevant permits and offer consultancy on planning applications, environmental permits and CL:AIRE. We also support soil testing so your duty of care is covered.

Recycling initiatives

We have invested in technology and processes for over 25 years to push our recycling rates higher and support customers across Somerset to meet their environmental goals.

How do Towens separate your waste?

Separation is where good recycling begins. Where possible, we encourage segregation at source on your site, then we refine it further at our facilities.

At our recycling sites, feedstock passes through attrition cells, crushing, sieving and screening. We also have a team in place who review and separate materials manually. Our process removes contaminants such as oils and divides materials by type and size. We sample regularly for physicality, constituents and composition so the end products meet the relevant specifications.

The result is clean, graded material ready for reuse rather than waste destined for landfill.

What is your waste turned into?

Almost everything that arrives with us is given a second purpose. Materials we recover and recycle include:

• Road planings: A strong, economical surface ideal for farm tracks, car parking areas and footpaths.
• Recycled aggregates: Including Type 1, 6F5, scalpings and clean stone.
• Sands: Fine sand, fill sand and grit sand produced under our WRAP Quality Protocol.
• Recycled screened topsoil: Reusable for landscaping and reinstatement.
• Metals, plasterboard and most plastics: Sorted for recycling.
• Timber: Sent for energy recovery.

Why choose road planings for your project?

Road planings are produced when cold milling machines remove the top layer of tarmac during resurfacing. They compact into a durable, hard-wearing surface that withstands constant heavy use, all at a lower cost than primary aggregate. That makes them a smart, sustainable choice.

Sustainable waste management with Towens

Our offering covers the full picture: skip hire, tipper and grab hire, weighbridge services, plant hire, civils and demolition. We also sell recycled aggregates, soils and road planings direct from our processing site in Westonzoyland.

In a recent year, we recycled or reused 85.55% of waste, recovered 6.40% as energy and sent only 8.05% to landfill. Composting and recycling sit at the heart of how we work.

Who are Towens?

We are a family-owned recycling, waste management and haulage business with a 30-year track record. Based in Weston-super-Mare with depots across Somerset, we regularly support commercial projects across the county, such as Taunton, Yeovil, the Quantocks, North Somerset, etc. We serve everyone from major sites such as nuclear power plants to local builders and homeowners.

Ready to discuss road planings or wider waste services? Call us on 01934 424242, email skips@towens.co.uk or fill out our online form today.