Street Works UK Launches New Material Classification Protocol for Excavated Waste

Commencing on October 1, 2025, the UK utility sector will experience a considerable transformation in the classification and management of excavation waste as the new Street Works UK (SWUK) Material Classification Protocol is implemented. This protocol replaces existing Regulatory Position Statements RPS298 and RPS299, introducing a more rigorous, risk-oriented approach to waste classification, particularly concerning unplanned utility excavations

Key Components of the Protocol

1. Waste Management

Excavated materials must be separated by type (e.g., asphalt, soils) and hazard level (hazardous vs. non-hazardous) at the point of excavation and throughout their journey to final disposal or reuse. This helps ensure that different waste streams are handled and treated appropriately.

2. Comprehensive Risk Assessments

Each excavation requires both desk-based and site-specific risk assessments to determine potential environmental hazards. These assessments guide the initial waste classification and help identify whether further sampling or testing is necessary.

3. Sampling and Testing

A minimum of 1% of excavations from 2023 onwards must undergo laboratory analysis. This is designed to validate the risk-based classifications and ensure consistency across projects.

4. Waste Management Compliance

Once classified, waste must be managed according to its category and disposed of at appropriately licensed facilities, ensuring full legal and environmental compliance.

5. Quarterly Reporting

All participating companies are required to submit quarterly reports to Street Works UK. These reports must include waste classification data and test results, ensuring sector-wide visibility and accountability.

6. Environment Agency Oversight

The Environment Agency will monitor how well risk assessments align with lab testing results, providing an additional layer of regulatory oversight and ensuring best practice is followed.

The SMR Solution

As the industry adapts to the new Material Classification Protocol, SMR UK offers an innovative and compliant alternative that supports sustainable street works. SMR UK provides a range of advanced binder products specifically designed for the utility sector. These solutions fully align with the new Street Works UK protocol, presenting an alternative to conventional reinstatement methods.

The SMR binders are designed to be mixed directly with excavated spoil, facilitating the creation of surrounds for utilities and rebuilding layers up to Sub-Base for footpaths and Base Course for carriageways.

Key benefits include:

• 100% reuse of excavated material on-site: No need for off-site disposal or importing aggregates.
• Fully compliant end product: Meets the new waste classification standards, reducing administrative burdens and environmental risk.
• Cost savings and operational efficiency: Less haulage, reduced disposal costs, and faster reinstatement times.
• Sustainability: Aligns with the Waste Hierarchy by reducing landfill use.

By converting materials that might otherwise be classified as waste into a high-performance reinstatement material, SMR UK has developed the SROH A9 Approved NFSMR, a non-foamed structural material for reinstatement that meets the standards established by both the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH) and the Highway Authority & Utilities Committee (HAUC).

Waste management represents one of the most significant cost challenges in the utility industry. The integration of the SWUK Protocol 2025, in conjunction with innovative solutions from SMR UK, presents a more intelligent, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional reinstatement techniques. By minimizing waste, testing, and delays, SMR UK is poised to become a leading option for the future of utility works.