Press Release
Study Offers Viable Alternative to Landfill

Issue date: 14 July 2004

Entec has published its recent detailed study of off-site treatment and re-use of contaminated soils. The study, entitled CLUSTER, provides an alternative to landfill for contaminated soil from smaller development sites where on-site treatment is rarely cost-effective or practical. Commissioned and managed by exSite Research Ltd, the project was sponsored by SAGTA and funded by shanks.first using the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.

With the Landfill Directive taking effect on Friday (16th July), the number of waste landfills that can accept hazardous waste will drastically reduce: current indications are that it will drop from the current 277 to just 8 sites. As a result, contaminated soil that is classified as hazardous waste will be subject to increased gate prices, already reported at up to 300% higher than previous rates. Longer haulage distances to the remaining landfills will further drive up costs.

The CLUSTER concept involves ‘feeding’ a soil treatment centre (hub) with contaminated soils from many, often small, sites. Suitable treated material may then be returned to the same site or another for reclamation purposes, or sold as a fill material or aggregate. The study considers the design of the treatment hubs, commercial, contractual and financial perspectives, planning and licensing, logistical and operational constraints, ownership issues and the complexities and inconsistencies arising from various pieces of UK legislation, the EU Landfill Directive and regulatory controls.

According to David Edwards, chief executive of exSite, “alternatives to landfill are critical to ensure sustainable management of material from brownfield development. exSite has identified the CLUSTER project as a key way forward and has already taken action to find solutions to the issues identified in this report.”

The CLUSTER report can be downloaded in PDF format here.

Enquiries to:
Francesco Corsi
E.mail: corsf@entecuk.co.uk
Tel: 0191 272 6128
Fax: 0191 272 6592

Notes to Editors

• Entec is one of the UK’s largest environmental and engineering consultancies. The technical and business skills of over 700 staff and associates are dedicated to delivering strategic, technical and engineering solutions which bring commercial benefits to our customers at home and overseas. This know-how is based on over 60 years of consulting experience in the public and private sectors. Visit www.entecuk.com for further details of who we are and what we do.
  

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