A Gabion Stone is a large natural stone, generally between 80mm-200mm in size. They are used to fill wire cages known as Gabion Baskets, which are generally used to quickly create inexpensive but aesthetically pleasing retaining walls. Due to their natural and angular look they are now widely used across construction & landscaping to help […]

What is MOT Type 1 Sub-base? MOT Type 1 Subbase or just Type 1 Subbase is a granular crushed aggregate. It is used as a subbase in construction work. Aggregate material is crushed to 40mm down to dust. This mixture of sizes makes it great for compaction, making it extremely strong with great loading bearing […]

Updated 29th October 2021 Do you have waste soils? Get in touch with the GMAT team for compliant recovery or disposal. Send your soil report to info@gmat.co.uk   Absolute Hazardous (AH)   |   Mirror Hazardous (MH)   | Mirror Non-Hazardous (MN)   |   Absolute Non-Hazardous (AN) CODE DESCRIPTION ENTRY TYPE 01   WASTE RESULTING FROM EXPLORATION, MINING, QUARRYING, […]

The UK could run out of land by 2030 due to the demands for the redevelopment of space for food, housing, and energy, according to a Cambridge University-backed report. With the UK population forecasted to reach seventy million by 2030, the need for increased food production, extra housing, working areas, and amenities will increase the […]

  What are Construction Aggregates? The term ‘aggregates‘ is a broad term for a material that is used for construction or building applications. This includes gravel, sands, crushed stone, etc. If aggregates are produced using raw materials they are known as quarried aggregates or primary aggregates Aggregates can also be produced by recycling demolition waste […]

Nearly all landscaping projects require topsoil, but for some reason, it has become an afterthought. Topsoil is governed by some strict standards and sourcing the correct topsoil is important for the future growth of landscapes.   What is Topsoil BS3882 As the name suggests, is the top layer of soil, which is usually fertile and […]

  What is Giant Hogweed? Giant Hogweed or Heracleum Mantegazzianum is an invasive plant that originated from Russia and Georgia. It was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the 19th Century. Giant Hogweed in the UK has been traced from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Seed list in 1817. The plant escaped […]

  What is Himalayan Balsam? Himalayan Balsam or Impatiens glandulifera is an invasive plant that was introduced to the UK in 1839 as an ornamental garden plant. The plant was native to the Himalayan region and grows rapidly causing issues for surrounding plants. The plant forms dense colonies which suppress neighbouring plants by shading them […]

Waste Soils is a term you will hear frequently when working in the construction industry. This is because according to Defra, the construction industry generates 51 million tonnes of waste soils which accounts for around 43% of all construction waste and 25% of total UK waste generated in 2016. What are waste soils? Waste soils […]

What is a circular economy? A circular economy is a concept aimed at eliminating waste and making continuous usage of the resources available. This can be achieved by reusing or recycling waste soils or materials rather than disposing of them, helping to preserve the raw materials that are available. To put this into perspective, the […]

If you work in the construction or civils industry you might have heard of the phrase ‘Muck Away‘. In simple terms, Muck Away is the process of removing waste, mainly soil, from a development site. The material will then be sent to the appropriate location for either disposal, remediation, or reuse. If your project produces […]

What are construction waste soils? During construction, the existing ground is generally excavated to create new levels, foundations, or void space for fill materials such as aggregates. These soils can be reused on-site as general fill, however, if there is no further use for the soil and it requires removal from the site, it becomes […]