CASE STUDY
WATER MAINS REPLACEMENT USING SMR BATCH MIX FROM RICHARDSON RECYCLING’S HUB-SITE FOR REINSTATEMENT
PORINGLAND, NORFOLK, 2015
CLIENT: RICHARDSON RECYCLING, BALFOUR BEATTY, @ONEALLIANCE
Industry: Utilities
Our utilities products offer a permanent solution
Product: Batch-Mix
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This case study highlights the successful use of SMR as an alternative backfill solution for a Balfour Beatty scheme in Poringland, Norfolk. Richardson Recycling, a hub site partner of SMR UK, collaborated with Mick Damen and Chris Taylor from Balfour Beatty to implement SMR as a backfill solution for an 11.4km water main replacement project. The project resulted in significant cost savings,reduced carbon footprint, and a more sustainable approach to utility projects.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Traditional backfill methods for trench reinstatement involved costly muck away and the import of virgin aggregates. The rising costs of landfill tax and virgin aggregates posed financial andenvironmental challenges. The project required a solution to address these issues and reducecarbon footprint.
THE SMR SOLUTION
Richardson Recycling proposed the use of SMR as an alternative backfill. Despite spacelimitations for a mobile SMR batching plant, the proximity of Richardson Recycling’s hub site inMorningthorpe allowed them to deliver SMR to the project site using grab lorries. Thecollaboration enabled efficient backfilling of trenches and processing of spoil materials.
RESULTS
Collaboration between Richardson Recycling, Mick Damen, and Chris Taylor saved BalfourBeatty and @one alliance £23,173 by using SMR instead of traditional methods. The use of SMRreduced the carbon footprint by nearly 50% compared to traditional methods. 1,474.84 tonnesof SMR were used, 1,100.78 tonnes of spoil were removed for processing, and only 374.06 tonnesof non-recyclable waste went to landfill. The collaboration also reduced lorry movements from191 to 119, saving 72 lorry movements and contributing to a greener approach.
There haven’t been any defects so far on this scheme using SMR. All of this is helped by thegood working relationship that is between Richardson Recycling and Balfour Beatty, the gangswho work for Chris and Mick and Richard Moore from West Norfolk Surfacing and his team whohave also played a massive part to make all of this achievable.
BENEFITS
Cost Efficiency: SMR reduced costs associated with landfill tax, muck away, and virginaggregates.
Environmental Impact: SMR significantly lowered the carbon footprint and contributed to agreener approach to construction.
Effective Collaboration: A strong working relationship between Richardson Recycling, BalfourBeatty, and the @one alliance contributed to the project’s success.
“On this project we had two priorities: Firstlyreducing the carbon footprint of the job andbeing as sustainable as possible. Secondly, on ahigh profile project such as this we could not riskany backfill shrinkage which would have affectedthe reinstatement, meaning future remedialworks and returns to site could be required. Ourpolicy is to get it right first time. With such a largeproject, recycling as much of the materialcoming out of the ground as possible makesgood economic and environmental sense. Aspart of Anglian Water’s @One Alliance team, weare looking to expand the use of SMR across allour projects. It is not just the sustainability anglethat is attractive, SMR produces an exceptionalproduct that is stable and compacts well, as wellas returning a substantial saving on materialcosts.”
Chris Taylor, Construction Manager with BalfourBeatty
CONCLUSION
The successful implementation ofSMR as an alternative backfill solutionfor the Poringland schemedemonstrated its potential to reducecosts, carbon footprint, and landfillusage while ensuring efficient trenchreinstatement. This case studyshowcases the value of collaborationand innovative approaches increating a more sustainable future forthe utilities sector and civilengineering projects.
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