Green Think Tank Calls For Greater Use Of Recycled Steel
Steel Scrap Materials Recycling. Aluminum Chip Waste After Machi

The independent think tank Green Alliance, which works with the UK government to address environmental issues, has called for greater steel recycling in the UK. Materials Recycling World reports that there is potential for the UK steel industry to transfer production to electric arc furnaces that can enable recycling.

A new report titled “A Brighter Future for UK Steel” has been published which recommends that steel recycling rates in the UK would benefit from wider use of electric arc furnaces, which could meet up to 80% of domestic steel demand. This has the potential to reduce embedded carbon emissions by 14% and reduce industrial emissions by 6%.

The report states: “The UK market for steel has potential to grow by up to 26 per cent by 2030, mostly from meeting net zero needs like electric vehicle charging points and wind turbines. To effectively meet the net zero goal and not just shift emissions elsewhere, it is important that the UK manages demand by using its steel more efficiently.”

It continues: “We show that domestic production capacity could supply the vast majority of what the UK will need, particularly in scenarios involving greater material efficiency. And recycled steel could meet nearly 80 per cent of future UK demand.”

“Better use of steel in the UK and elsewhere could reduce embedded carbon by 14 per cent and cut emissions from the domestic steel industry by an estimated six per cent in 2030, on top of the savings made from running modern lower carbon steel plants.”

The report authors noted that the UK lagged behind other developed countries in boosting the recycling of scrap steel, despite there being clear evidence of demand for low-carbon steel.

Elsewhere, the British Metal Recycling Association (BMRA) reports that thermal CCTV technology is being installed at scrap metal and waste sites to reduce the risk of fires. The devices will help to detect fires that ignite within piles of waste that cannot be easily detected through visual inspection, or fires that occur out of operational hours. 

Andy Moore, managing director of security and fire experts ADJ said: “These fires can happen within waste piles on site, and can end up burning inside without any notification. They can seriously flare up when the pile is disturbed. There are batteries stored on site from depolluted cars and these can also be a serious fire hazard if ignited.”

The thermal imaging cameras can detect even small changes in temperature with a high degree of accuracy. They will be installed in the most high-risk areas, including shredders, plant rooms, and stockpiles, and will automatically trigger an alarm to a centralised monitoring system if any abnormal temperature changes are detected.

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MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.