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Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) is the ash left over when household and municipal waste is incinerated at Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities. IBA tends to have a residual metals content, so it is processed to remove these and, what is left is Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate (IBAA). IBAA has similar properties to natural construction aggregates but often ends up in landfill or construction low grade use. At Recycl8, instead of burying this material, we turn IBAA into a sustainable, useful material forming the base of our lower carbon R8Mix concrete, giving it a new life in construction and helping reduce waste and carbon footprint.

R8Mix is a lower carbon concrete made using a unique patented process that repurposes incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) from Energy from Waste (EfW) plants.  IBAA would normally go to landfill or be used in low grade construction.  Instead of using virgin quarried aggregate, we use this recycled material combined with a unique Binder to create R8 Mix concrete.

Our process ensures environmental compliance and opens up cement reduction in mix designs. The R8 process also locks in additional CO₂ before the concrete is even used. All this means we can reduce the amount of cement needed without affecting the strength or performance of the concrete — helping to cut carbon emissions.

An R8Mix is designed in the same way as any standard concrete mix in compliance with BS EN 260 and BS 8500 and is mixed, handled, placed and cured just like traditional concrete. IBAA is treated like any other aggregate for concrete with all relevant BS compliance testing carried out.  The key difference is that R8Mix uses recycled IBAA instead of virgin quarried aggregates, helping to reduce the environmental impact. In some cases, it also allows for less cement to be used without affecting strength or performance. This creates a concrete that is as strong and reliable as standard concrete, but with a lower carbon footprint.

R8Mix helps meet climate targets in several ways:

• It reduces the use of virgin quarried aggregates by repurposing recycled IBAA, cutting down on the environmental impact of extraction.
• It can lower the amount of cement required in mixes, reducing carbon emissions linked to cement production.
• It captures and locks in CO₂ during the IBAA treatment process, adding an extra layer of carbon reduction.
• It takes IBAA out of the waste stream and places it in to the Circular Economy.

By combining these benefits, R8Mix offers a more sustainable concrete solution with a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional concrete.

Recycl8 are already working with a number of concrete manufacturers to help reduce their carbon footprint and meet climate goals. R8Mix has been successfully used in a variety of applications, complying with British Standards. If you think we can support your sustainability goals, we would love to hear from you @info@r8iba.com.

Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities are already helping the environment by turning waste into energy but by working with Recycl8, they can play an even bigger role in the Circular Economy.

We are already collaborating with several EfW businesses to repurpose their ash, preventing it from going to landfill and turning it into a valuable raw material for our lower carbon concrete.

We would be happy to explore opportunities with other EfW organisations, helping them avoid landfill, reduce environmental impact, and become a fully sustainable part of the Circular Economy.