Housing developers and public sector bodies struggling to progress brownfield schemes due to escalating remediation costs now have a viable alternative. ReBind, a new soil treatment technology by SMR UK, offers a sustainable, on-site method for treating contaminated land. It’s already being used by major developers including Bellway, Redrow, Vistry Homes, and David Wilson Homes.
ReBind is a patented, lime-free binder that enables developers to stabilise and reuse up to 100% of contaminated soil on site.
This avoids the significant costs and delays associated with excavation, transport, and landfill disposal. With landfill tax now set at £126.15 per tonne—and total disposal costs for hazardous soil often reaching £160 per tonne—managing contaminated ground off-site places considerable strain on budgets. ReBind offers a more practical alternative by treating soil in situ, cutting these costs and helping keep projects on track.
“ReBind gives developers and local authorities a realistic, sustainable way to treat contaminated land on site,” said Clare Thomas, Managing Director of SMR UK. “It offers a practical, compliant, and cost-saving alternative, cutting remediation costs by up to 50% and shortening project timelines by as much as 75%.”
Unlike lime-based methods, ReBind doesn’t require mellowing time and is effective in all weather, meaning fewer delays. It also reduces the need for imported materials, cutting vehicle movements and carbon emissions - key considerations for schemes with net-zero targets.
The product has already delivered measurable results. On a major infrastructure project in Melton Mowbray, SMR UK worked with MWH Treatment Ltd to stabilise contaminated ground on-site, saving over £2 million and cutting 1,300 vehicle movements. It also prevented more than 1,270 tonnes of CO₂e emissions.
ReBind is designed to handle a wide range of contaminants, including hydrocarbons, heavy metals, solvents, pesticides, and multiple forms of asbestos. This makes it particularly useful on complex urban or industrial sites where mixed contamination is common.
With over 28 million tonnes of soil sent to landfill annually in the UK, ReBind provides a route to reduce reliance on dig-and-dump approaches. It aligns with the government’s push for sustainable brownfield redevelopment and helps unlock sites that may otherwise remain stalled due to remediation costs.
SMR UK is working with housing developers, councils, and contractors to integrate ReBind into active and planned schemes.
To find out more or request a consultation, visit www.smruk.com.