Amey PLC

Amey PLC Streamlines Compost Processing with Doppstadt SM518 from CRJ Services

Amey PLC, a UK-based infrastructure support service provider, has been delivering environmental and waste management solutions for nearly a century. Founded in 1921 as a quarry operator in Oxfordshire, the company has grown into a multi-division business, offering utilities, waste management, facilities management, transport, defence, and justice services.

Across the UK, Amey works in partnership with local councils to manage waste and recycling facilities, promoting recycling and reducing landfill. Their Cambridgeshire site spans 165 hectares, handling waste from local authorities, businesses, residents, and public services. The facility combines sorting, processing, and composting technologies to maximise the reuse of green and general waste.

Meeting the Challenge of Green Waste Processing

A key part of Amey’s operation involves processing green waste collected from local residents. Initially, the waste is organised into windrows and left for five weeks while the composting process begins. Once the material has partially decomposed, it is fed into a trommel screener with a 12mm drum. The sub-12mm fraction is extracted and offered as a free soil conditioner to local residents.

The remaining material, over 12mm, requires further processing to remove sub-20mm compost, which is used across Amey’s 400-acre site to recondition soil. Processing this fraction posed a challenge due to limited space and the need to run the second trommel in tandem with the first.

A Tailored Solution from CRJ Services

In 2011, Amey PLC approached CRJ Services for a hire solution to their compost processing challenge. After assessing the site’s operational requirements, CRJ recommended a Doppstadt SM518 trommel fitted with a 20mm drum. The compact design allowed it to fit within the restricted processing area, and its multi-function remote control enabled Amey staff to safely operate the machine themselves.

Direct feeding from the first trommel to the SM518 eliminated the need for manual handling, improving throughput and reducing operational costs. CRJ promptly delivered the machine and provided full handover training, ensuring a smooth integration into Amey’s process.

Long-Term Partnership and Proven Performance

Fast forward eight years, and the Doppstadt SM518 continues to be a cornerstone of Amey’s compost processing operation. CRJ Services has maintained a long-term hire arrangement, supporting Amey continuously since the initial delivery in 2011.

Kiel Porter, Operations Manager at Amey Cespa, shared his perspective on the partnership: “The SM518 has been an excellent addition to our process. It’s reliable, easy to operate, and perfectly suited to our space constraints. CRJ Services have always been responsive, delivering both the right machinery and support when we need it.”

Delivering Efficiency and Sustainability

The SM518 has enabled Amey PLC to efficiently extract the required compost fractions while optimising labour and space. This project highlights the value of flexible, well-supported machinery solutions in municipal waste operations, demonstrating how long-term partnerships and tailored equipment can deliver both operational efficiency and sustainable outcomes.