A WASTE haulage and recycling firm has expanded its offering with a new large-scale composting operation.

Scott Bros has invested in its services to transform more of the waste it receives into high-quality compost.

Bosses at the company, headquartered on the outskirts of Billingham, Stockton, say the move will help support the DIY, gardening and landscaping sectors, having already generated several hundred tonnes of compost for use on commercial and residential premises.

Processed at its site at Norton Bottoms, adjacent to the A19 flyover, the compost is produced using large amounts of green waste collected from Scott Bros’ commercial customers, which include a number of local authorities.

Collected green waste is shredded, which reduces the decomposition time encouraging the movement of microbes, and, once cured, the compost is available to customers through delivery or collection.

The business adopted the new composting method after receiving its environmental permit to compost green waste at the end of 2017, and Bob Borthwick, commercial manager, said the move has provided fresh momentum.

He said: “We are continually looking at ways to recycle as much of the waste we receive and this new composting operation will be of real benefit to the agricultural and gardening markets.

“The vast spaces available at Norton Bottoms means we can expand this service as part of our circular economy activities at the site, which includes recycling wood and soils as well as our award-winning reed beds, which processes and cleans contaminated water from street sweeping operations.

“This is the first stage of our operations in this area as we are exploring ways to develop our composting processes as we begin to source and receive more green waste from new customers across the North-East.”

Founded on Teesside 40 years ago, predominantly in the supply of tipper lorries and excavators to local authorities and the construction industry, Scott Bros has grown into a number of sectors.

While still being heavily involved in haulage and skip and plant hire, the business owns and operates domestic and commercial waste recycling centres, and facilities for the crushing and screening of aggregates, recycling soils and clays.

It also oversees the Reed Bed effluent treatment centre, which breaks down containments extracted from contaminated waters.