Port construction using recycled concrete

Recycl8 teamed up with construction materials company Breedon Group, to pour 52 cubic metres of its sustainable, lower carbon R8 Mix concrete for a weighbridge project at the port.

“The last six months have been particularly exciting for Recycl8 with our first commercial pours in the housing and industrial sectors and now our first port project, marking another milestone for us,” said Mark Gillespie, CEO of Recycl8.

”We believe that our R8 mix technology is very much the future of the construction industry achieving sustainability goals and are delighted to be partnering once again with Breedon Group and also supporting Haventus, two companies who are very much aligned with our vision for what is possible in the industry, without compromising on performance.”

Sustainable construction

Recycl8 works in collaboration with the waste-to-energy and global construction industries to transform Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) normally destined for landfill into a high-performing, lower carbon concrete solution.

The project at the port used Recycl8’s R8 mix, which is made from recycled materials, in combination with the Breedon Balance range of products, already known for their performance and commitment to sustainability.

“Working in conjunction with Recycl8 and Haventus is a great platform to show how we can design and produce low carbon concrete as part of our Breedon Balance range,” said Craig Godsman of Breedon Group.

”With Recycl8’s mix along with low carbon cement replacements, we are able to produce high quality concrete suitable for all kinds of environments with lowered CO2 values.”

’Upcycled’ buildings

Concrete is the most commonly used man-made material on earth and Recycl8 has a mission to reduce carbon emissions from its manufacture.

It works closely with its partners in the waste to energy and construction industries to build a more sustainable future for the planet, it says that this isn’t green offsetting, but is part of a bigger solution for the circular economy.

The company’s markets include the construction sector, as well as marine and other marine civils projects including the renewables market and offshore windfarms.

Offshore windfarms are a particularly interesting example.

Whether opting for concrete gravity base foundations, or modular floating semi-sub technology, designing a reliable, durable and cost-effective floating substructure has always proven challenging in the offshore sector. Lowering the CO2 footprint of the project adds another dimension of complexity.

Ironically, the global surge in windfarm construction fuelled the demand for concrete and in turn driven CO2 emissions.

Recycl8 says that by using its sustainable concrete, the service life of a concrete structure can be several times longer than similar steel constructions, despite the marine corrosive and erosive environment offshore.

Its patented technology takes incinerator bottom ash from waste to energy operators, often destined for landfill, and transforms it into a low carbon additive for concrete manufacture.

In addition, the strong chemical bonds within the cement fortify it against water, heat and erosion, preserving its lifespan as a building material.

Heavy metals are also prevented from leaching both during construction and in the future.