SteelPhalt Opens New Plant to Recycle Slag in Spain
BY Karen Tognarelli
New SteelPhalt plant is located in Basque Country, Spain, to recycle steel slag into asphalt mix design
Harsco Environmental, a division of Enviri Corporation (NYSE: NVRI), Rotherham, United Kingdom, opened the first permanent SteelPhalt™ plant outside of the United Kingdom March 19, 2025. The new plant in Murga, Basque Country, Spain, is poised to revolutionize the local asphalt market by offering environmentally friendly and superior-quality asphalt solutions. The new plant will contribute to meeting the region’s environmental goals outlined in the Basque Country Waste Prevention and Management Plan 2030 and the Basque Country Circular Economy Strategy 2030.
SteelPhalt, a Harsco Environmental company based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has been developing and manufacturing high-performance asphalt products for roadbuilding in the UK industry since the 1960s. SteelPhalt sources slag from the surrounding steel industry to sustainably create asphalt. Check out the February 2022 article “SteelPhalt Gives Steel Slag a Second Life” for more information.
“This advanced plant underscores our commitment to delivering sustainable solutions while focusing on the evolving needs of our regional customers,” said Martin Gray. He’s the director of Harsco Environmental’s ecoproducts™ Europe division. “This plant symbolizes far more than a mere milestone; it’s a profound testament to our dedication to growth, sustainability and global impact.”
The plant, situated in a highly industrial area, is designed to process more than 195,000 tons of slag per year, controlling the process from beginning to end. This allows for the production of more than 200,000 tons of sustainable asphalt products per year for regional roads while entering a steel byproduct into a valuable, perpetually recyclable product stream.
“I am honored to contribute to this groundbreaking project, which showcases innovation and addresses critical environmental challenges, providing an outstanding solution for the steel and asphalt industry,” said Operations Director at SteelPhalt, Mikel Barandalla. “We’re thrilled to expand our business by producing high-performance asphalt, effectively reducing the carbon footprint of road construction materials by up to 50%.”
Harsco Environmental and its parent company, Enviri, remain steadfast in their mission to drive positive environmental change through innovative solutions. The inauguration of SteelPhalt’s new plant is a testament to this commitment. Enviri continues to lead the way in promoting sustainability and advancing environmental stewardship worldwide by leveraging its expertise and cutting-edge technology.