6
MAY-JUNE 2014
d
&
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WORLD NEWS
Recycled aggregate
trial wins Green
Mind Award
UK-based TRL, who provides
independent research,
consultancy, testing and
certification for all aspects of
transport, has been awarded a
Green Mind Award for the best
Green Innovation project in the
Middle East and North Africa
(MENA).
The project, “Investigating
Recycled Aggregate Materials in
Construction”, involves the use of
recycled aggregate in a full scale
building trial intended to support
the construction of a sustainable
and green Qatar. It aims to
reduce the volume of solid waste
accumulating in the country and
across the MENA region as well
as to provide a practical solution
for a cheaper and sustainable
aggregate supply into the region.
Following on from extensive
laboratory tests, three single
storey buildings were constructed
adjacent to each other using
alternative aggregates to replace
different proportions of virgin
aggregate in structural concrete
and load bearing concrete
blocks. A comprehensive testing
programme is underway to
monitor in-service performance,
with initial results indicating that
the performance of the concrete
made with alternative aggregate is
as good as, if not better than that
made with virgin aggregate.
Successful development and
implementation of innovative
products from alternative
aggregate will develop new
Moscow
landmark
to fall?
Architects, engineers,
academicians and cultural
figures around the world
have come together in an
effort to save the Shabolovka
Radio Tower in Moscow,
Russia, from demolition. In a
petition pleading with Russian
president Vladimir Putin
to save the structure, it is
described as being ‘a beacon
and symbol of progressive,
forward looking civilisation.”
Commissioned by Lenin,
designed by Vladimir Shukhov
and completed in 1922, the
50 storey conical structure is
made up of a steel latticework
sitting on a shallow concrete
foundation ring. It was
intended to spread the
message of Communism
around the world using the
new radio technology and also
to stand as an icon of the
new regime’s revolutionary
ambition.
Located just a few miles
from the Kremlin and Red
Square but out of bounds
for tourists, the tower
has been allowed to fall
into disrepair and is badly
affected by corrosion. In
February, the Russian State
Committee for Television
and Radio concluded that
it should be dismantled
because of its condition. The
subject of debate in Russian
news channels and other
discussions, the tower may
yet be saved.
business opportunities with
associated jobs for the processing
and marketing of recycled
aggregate materials. This three-
year project funded by the Qatar
National Research Fund (QNRF)
is due to be completed later this
year.
■
DDS establishes
remediation wing
Following the acquisition of an
Asbestos Removal License, UK
contractor DDS has established
a new operation named DDS
Environmental Ltd. The new
company will have a dedicated
management team and offer
services including asbestos
removal, land remediation,
asbestos surveys, environmental
cleaning and air monitoring.
“We have carried out non-licensed
asbestos removal in-house since
our incorporation”, said Wesley
Ray, managing director, “and
we’ve always felt that obtaining a
license was the next logical step as
it would enable us to keep a much
larger percentage of the works
in-house, and subsequently offer a
more carefully controlled service.”
“We’ve recruited some highly
experienced industry experts to
head the division and bolster our
own knowledge. We’re confident
that the same core values of
quality, outstanding health and
safety, and positive work attitudes
will be transferred, and that DDS
Environmental will quickly secure
a valued positions on client’s
supply chains.”
■
What is believed to be the
largest ever demolition
project in the state of
Vermont, USA, is currently
under way at the state’s
former office complex in
Waterbury, which was badly
damaged by tropical storm
Irene. Sixteen buildings are
currently being demolished,
to be followed by another
six. A total of more than
22,000 tonnes of waste
has already been recycled
during the project, with just
1,400 tonnes expected
to go to landfill during the
work.
DEMOLITION BITS
Great Lakes sells NASDI
and Yankee to Dore
Great Lakes Dredge and Docks
has announced the sale of its
‘historical’ demolition businesses,
NASDI LLC and Yankee
Environmental Services LLC, for
a total of US$5.3 million
(€3.9 million). The sale was
completed on April 2013 to a
privately owned demolition
contractor based in the midwest
USA.
Great Lakes CEO Jonathon
Berger said of the deal: “We are
pleased to announce the sale of
the historical demolition business
as we continue to refocus our
strategy and expand upon
our success in environmental
& remediation services that
complement our core dredging
business. The new ownership
structure is a good fit for the
historical demolition business
and we wish all those related
to that business, best wishes on
future endeavors.”
Great Lakes will collect any
outstanding monies for works
already carried out by the two
companies as well as for work
underway at the time of the
closing of the deal, as well as
retaining certain obligations,
including those relating to
existing projects. A significant
remediation capability will be
retained that will be performed
by the Terra subsidiary.from
around the world by looking
at some of the highest profile,
challenging and demanding
contracts carried out over the last
few months. We will announce
more details of these as they
become available.
■
