Organisations involved: Keanes Environmental & St James Homes

Summary

Keanes Environmental were commissioned by St James homes to modify 30,000 tonnes of inert and non hazardous material through their Keanemixer to create Trenchmod® which is being utilised as sub-base for the overall site infrastructure works. 

The use of Trenchmod® has resulted in massive cost and environmental benefit including the diversion of 30,000 Tonnes of material from landfill, the avoidance of 380 Tonnes of CO2 and delivered cost savings to the project in the region of £1.2 Million[1][1].

BACKGROUND

NISP member St James Homes (a joint venture between Thames Water and Berkeley Group Holdings) are keen to show how family housing can be brought back to a former water treatment site in Enfield, North London.  The Innova Park residential development, a 9.83 acre former water treatment works, will provide 469 houses and flats and represents a significant development for the area in terms of economic, social and environmental impact.

Berkeley Group Holdings are recognised as an innovator in the house building and development field scoring 84% (joint top) in the WWF/Insight Investment Sustainability Survey.  The use of the Keanes Trenchmod® process on site was an obvious choice for a company which is well known for its use of sustainable new technologies.

The Trenchmod® Process takes material from excavations and recycles them through a unique mixing process so the material can be re-used as an alternative to a sub-base, rather than be sent to landfill.  Site arisings are mixed with an active powder and processed through the Keanemixer, in a fully computerised process.  Once processed the material is tested for compliance with the required specification before being stockpiled for use up to the under side of road base level in types 1, 2, 3 and 4 roads, footpaths, cycle tracks and verges.  The material produced has strength in excess of Type 1 when compacted back into excavations and is fully compliant with Highways and Utilities Committee (HAUC) request for Class S material.  The Environment Agency has also confirmed that the process is exempt from Waste Management Licensing requirements for this application.

 THE NISP CONNECTION

To date Keanes Environmental has worked with various NISP members and their projects have seen more than 38,700 tonnes of material diverted from landfill and cost savings to industry of around £1.4 Million. Keanes Environmental continue to utilise NISP London and recognise the Programme as an extremely valuable means of developing their business and generating overall awareness in the sector of the Trenchmod® technology.

Andy Goodson, Sales & Marketing Director for Keanes Environmental: ‘NISP continues to be a fantastic way of introducing people whom share the common theme of waste reduction on their sites, which not only benefits the contractor but also has a huge benefit to the environment in which we live and work’. 

As a result of NISPs support and the company’s active participation in workshops including presentation slots, Keanes have gained further exposure to a number of large utility and construction companies, including Thames Water, Laing O’Rourke, Clancy Dowcra and Murphy Group.  This exposure is generating interest nationwide and Keanes are looking to increase capacity significantly in 2007 to really capitalise on the demand for this remarkably sustainable process.  

achievements

·          30,000 Tonnes of material diverted from landfill

·          Removal of purchase cost for 30,000 Tonnes of fill material

·          Avoidance of 3,000 lorry movements of materials to and from site

·          380 Tonnes of CO2 emissions avoidance

·          Additional Sales of £0.9 Million

·          Anticipated cost savings to overall project in region of £1.2 Million

Contact details

Dan Botterill

NISP London Region

WSP Environmental Limited

Buchanan House, 24-30 Holborn, London EC1N 2HS

Tel: +44 (0) 207 314 5882 

Fax: +44 (0) 207 314 5005

Mobile: +44 (0) 7769 960 118

Email: daniel.botterill@nisp.org.uk

www.nispregion.org.uk/london