In a significant advancement for the UK construction industry, a new lower carbon concrete solution has been implemented at Veolia's Ling Hall Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) processing site in Warwickshire.
This project marks the first use of a low-carbon Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate (IBAA) and Recycl8's R8 Mix concrete in the UK, showcasing a collaborative effort among industry leaders to enhance sustainability in construction.
The concrete solution is the result of a partnership between sustainable technology firm Recycl8, construction materials company Breedon, Danish recycling company Meldgaard, and environmental services provider Veolia.
The collaboration has led to the creation of a high-performance concrete mix that incorporates secondary aggregates derived from IBA, which is processed at Veolia and Meldgaard's joint operation at Ling Hall.
This site annually transforms IBA from the nearby Battlefield Energy Recovery Facility into 50,000 tonnes of secondary aggregates.
TG Beighton laid the lower carbon concrete solution on the extension pad at the Ling Hall site, with full approval from the Environment Agency.
The initiative is a landmark in England for sustainable construction, demonstrating the practical and environmental benefits of using IBAA in bound surfaces.
While IBAA is commonly used in civil engineering projects under the Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) protocol, this application in concrete production represents a significant development in proving the material's viability and sustainability.
According to Meldgaard, the project is in line with their mission to find innovative applications for IBAA. The R8 Mix, designed to optimise the performance of IBAA in concrete, offers a proven, eco-friendly choice for construction firms aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.
Each tonne of IBA-derived material saves approximately 30kg of CO₂ emissions. This solution not only meets the stringent performance requirements of modern infrastructure projects but also contributes significantly to environmental conservation.
Recycl8's expertise in transforming industrial waste into valuable construction materials ensures that the concrete is both environmentally responsible and capable of withstanding the demands of contemporary construction. sector.
Veolia Environmental Services UK Treatment chief operating officer Donald Macphail said: “To lower carbon emissions, and advance progress on the net zero targets, industry is rightly looking for new ways to lower the carbon footprint associated with construction. To support this aim it's essential to deliver materials and solutions that can lower environmental impact, and this latest innovation is a clear example of how we can provide new sustainable alternatives.
“By processing bottom ash, from the treatment of non-recyclable waste, we can deliver an important source of secondary aggregates for the 90 million tonnes of concrete used annually in the UK, lower the dependence on virgin resources, and reduce carbon emissions."
