Fortis - Transforming bin bags into buildings

Published by

Stephen Emerson

Fortis IBA Ltd are converting black bin liners into construction materials for use in a multitude of construction projects.

The transformation of black bin bag waste into electricity and construction aggregate within Hampshire is already a healthy example of sustainability and recycling best practice. Fortis then transforms the ash that this process produces into Fortistone.

Redirected from landfill, non-recyclable household waste is treated in waste-to-energy plants. Typical waste-to-energy plants generate enough electricity to power between 60,000 to 80,000 homes each year.

Fortis collects the bottom ash for recycling. The company have four such recycling facilities. The process involves recovering ferrous and non-ferrous metals before producing a sustainable construction aggregate - Fortistone® IBA Aggregate.

The recovered metals are sent for secondary smelting, relieving the burden on mass extraction of low yielding virgin metal ores whilst Fortistone® IBA Aggregate is used as a sustainable alternative in construction, reducing the need to quarry primary aggregates such as limestone and granite. This also reduces transportation issues.

Lee Thompson, Director commented: “By transforming the waste from your home into quality, Specification for Highways Work compliant construction materials, Fortis are easing the economic and environmental burden on landfill and our natural resources. For every one tonne of Fortistone® IBA Aggregate used in construction, 750 black bin bags are being diverted from landfill.”

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.