A brand new remediation know-how, ReBind, is claimed to supply a cheap, on-site resolution for dealing with contaminated soil on brownfield redevelopment websites, in response to the group behind it.
Developed by SMR UK, the patented binder is alleged to allow builders to stabilise and reuse as much as 100% of contaminated floor, avoiding escalating landfill prices and lowering environmental impression.
The launch comes as remediation prices proceed to rise. The usual fee of landfill tax elevated to £126.15 from April 2025. Mixed with disposal charges, eradicating hazardous soil can attain £160 per tonne, an more and more unviable route for a lot of developments. With shrinking landfill capability and rising prices, councils and builders are underneath strain to seek out sooner, extra inexpensive options.
“Landfill tax was meant to encourage extra sustainable options, however it has made remediation financially out of attain for a lot of tasks,” stated Clare Thomas, Managing Director of SMR UK.
“ReBind provides a direct, cost-effective possibility, treating soil on-site, chopping disposal prices, and lowering undertaking timelines by as much as 75%. It additionally reduces the necessity for importing supplies, lowering carbon impression and transport disruption.”
Not like conventional remediation strategies similar to lime, ReBind is a patented, lime-free binder that works in all climate and eliminates delays brought on by lime mellowing. It additionally permits for a change in specification, lowering layer depths in comparison with conventional excavation and removing approaches. The group says this considerably reduces programme time, whereas nonetheless attaining the required load-bearing energy (CBR) for a variety of growth websites.
ReBind is already in use on stay tasks and has delivered confirmed outcomes. On a large-scale infrastructure scheme in Melton Mowbray, SMR UK labored with MWH Remedy Ltd to stabilise contaminated floor circumstances on-site, avoiding the necessity to take away over 8,300m² of spoil and substitute it with imported supplies. The answer prevented over 1,300 car actions and saved greater than £2 million in prices whereas lowering carbon emissions by 1,272 tonnes of CO₂e.
“These outcomes clearly present how ReBind can overcome advanced floor circumstances and assist meet strict environmental targets,” stated Clare Thomas.
“We’re now taking a look at how the identical strategy could be utilized to residential developments, particularly those who have stalled as a result of excessive price of land remediation.”
SMR UK has additionally labored with main builders, together with Vistry Houses, Redrow, Bellway, and David Wilson Houses, utilizing its soil stabilisation know-how on energetic websites.
ReBind is designed to deal with a variety of contaminants discovered on brownfield websites. These embody heavy metals, hydrocarbons (similar to petroleum residues and BTEX compounds), polycyclic fragrant hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated solvents, industrial chemical compounds, pesticides, and herbicides. It’s also efficient on more difficult substances, together with fluorinated compounds, chlorobenzenes, phenols, nitrates, phosphates, energetics, and a number of types of asbestos, together with chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite. This in depth therapy vary makes ReBind well-suited to websites with advanced contamination profiles.
The launch helps the UK authorities’s Brownfield Launch Fund, which supplies £180 million to English councils to hurry up the event of disused land. One of many greatest boundaries to utilizing this funding is the price of remediation. ReBind provides a option to considerably lower these prices by as much as 50% when time, supplies, and transport are thought of, making beforehand stalled or unviable websites viable once more.
With over 28 million tonnes of soil despatched to UK landfills yearly, the business faces rising strain to maneuver away from dig-and-dump options. The federal government has even explored a Landfill Tax Grant Scheme to assist native authorities address the monetary burden. However the actual reply, many argue, is to cut back landfill reliance altogether. On-site options like ReBind permit tasks to go forward whereas complying with environmental laws.
SMR UK is working with housing builders, civil engineering contractors, and native authorities to combine ReBind into new tasks. Early trials are displaying vital financial savings, stronger compliance, and smoother supply.
Claire Thomas commented: “As native councils work to speed up brownfield growth underneath authorities funding schemes, applied sciences like ReBind may play a pivotal position in unlocking beforehand unviable websites and delivering new houses sooner and extra sustainably.”
For extra info on ReBind or to request a session, go to www.smruk.com.