SMR | SMR Aggregates

A smart solution

HJ Bennett - with over 60 years’ experience in resurfacing and supply of aggregates has developed a far more environmentally-friendly alternative called Eco-base.

For years now, HJ Bennett has looked for ways to make what they do greener.

A large proportion of their first life aggregate already comes from the least impactful method, the dredging of Bembridge Harbour, an area of outstanding natural beauty and a haven for waterfowl and other wildlife. But using first life aggregate is still wasteful.

HJ Bennett’s Eco-Base system allows the old material to be recycled and laid back down as a durable new surface, reducing energy usage and emissions. The Eco-Base binder captures any toxic components and binds them within the overall mix to render an end product that’s completely safe. This means that there is very little waste and no need for expensive recycling treatments or landfill. The result is a new road surface at a fraction of the cost and a considerably reduced carbon footprint.

How HJ Bennett do it?

The Eco-Base process starts by abrading the old road surface - using specially designed equipment - to a depth of 150-200mm. The extracted material is then rejuvenated at their recycling centre near Newport, IoW, then crushed and screened to the correct size. The Eco-Base binder is added and then used back on the stripped road as a first life aggregate replacement.

The benefits of the HJ Bennett Eco-Base & binder (SMR)

When used in standard stabilisation applications the treated material outperforms traditional quarried aggregates
When used in remediation projects, it can decrease the leach ability of contaminated soil
Re-using these waste materials has a major impact on the carbon footprint of road resurfacing projects
Substantial cost savings are available especially where toxic substances are initially present in waste.
Reduces the impact of quarrying, landfill and transport

A long stretch of the road in Furrlongs Newport was re-laid with Eco-Base from HJ Bennett.

It can be plainly seen to the right of the picture at the junction of the road at Furrlongs, the colour differential between the old road and new Eco-Base on the left.

Park Road in Ryde has had Eco-Base laid in May.