New SEM Product for Utility Trench Backfill

SoilDri is proud to announce its new SEM Range — specialist drying agent formulated to transform excavated materials into high-performance, reusable backfill. Perfectly suited for utility trench reinstatement and apparatus surround beneath Type 1 sub-base, the SEM Range offers a smarter, more sustainable solution for modern infrastructure projects.

Developed to meet the increasing demand for sustainable and efficient street works, SoilDri SEM allows contractors to reuse original excavated arisings by optimising moisture content for optimal compaction, eliminating the need for imported aggregates and expensive off-site disposal. “SoilDri SEM is a genuine game-changer for utilities and contractors operating under SROH specifications,” says Dan Macey, Director of Strategic Growth at SoilDri. “By treating excavated arisings directly on-site, we’re helping to reduce project delays, lower emissions, improve air quality, and deliver longer-lasting
reinstatement performance.”

Dig. Mix. Backfill. Repeat.

With a non-binding formulation, the SoilDri SEM range simplifies the process to three easy steps – Dig, Mix, Backfill – without altering the physical characteristics of the subsoil, it improves structural integrity by reducing air voids and enhancing compaction, helping to minimise asphalt fatigue and deliver durable, long-lasting reinstatements. Fully Compliant and Future-Proof SoilDri SEM is fully compliant with the 2025 edition of the EA-approved Street Works UK Protocol and meets all requirements under the 2020 Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH) S4 and S5 classifications.

Its benefits include:
- Elimination of disposal to landfill
- Removal of the need for imported backfill

- Handles a high range of moisture levels in the arisings
- Reduction in labour and reinstatement times
- Lowered carbon emissions (CO₂, NO₂, PM10) from transport
- Contribution to Local Authority Air Quality Targets
- Enhanced site profitability and safety

Sustainability in Action
In line with the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, SoilDri SEM supports key circular economy principles by keeping materials in use, reducing reliance on virgin aggregates, and cutting embodied carbon. It directly supports the Waste Hierarchy by preventing waste and encouraging material reuse.

End-to-End Technical Support
In addition to product supply, SoilDri provides full technical support to assist with on-site operations, from pre-start testing to real-time application advice.
This ensures successful outcomes and regulatory compliance without administrative complexity. “SoilDri SEM is not just a product, it applies ingenuity to soil management and trench reinstatement,” adds Dan Macey “It’s helping the sector move away from traditional methods and into a more efficient, compliant, and environmentally conscious way of working. SoilDri SEM isn’t the future — it’s the now.” For more information or to view our video visit https://soildri.com/sem-range-trench-backfilling/