The CLUSTER Project - Dealing with Contaminated Soils

Soil Treatment Hubs for Off-site Treatment, Recovery and Re-use
of Contaminated Soils - a viable alternative to landfill

Entec was commissioned by exSite Research Ltd. (exSite) to undertake the CLUSTER study. The project was sponsored by the Soil and Groundwater Technology Association (SAGTA) and was funded by shanks.first using the landfill tax credit system that is regulated by ENTRUST. Additional funding was provided by SAGTA. The project was managed by exSite on behalf of the funders.

Much of the contaminated soil encountered in the UK is found on smaller development sites, where the volume of soil and development pressures makes it uneconomic to set up a site based treatment facility. Time and space constraints act against the use of on-site treatment technologies. Historically this has led to off-site disposal of contaminated soils to landfill (dig and dump) and replacement with new quarried granular fills. However, landfill disposal will become increasingly undesirable as the EU Landfill Directive takes effect in July 2004.

There will be a reduced number of waste landfills that can accept hazardous waste. Contaminated soil will be classed as hazardous or non-hazardous depending on the degree and type of contamination. The effects will be to increase haulage distances to the remaining sites and to increase the gate price, the latter due to increased management costs and a potential major shortage of landfill capacity driving prices upwards.

Landfill gate prices are expected to increase by over 100% which together with increased haulage costs are providing some considerable impetus to providing an alternative solution for contaminated soils.

The CLUSTER concept would involve “feeding” a soil treatment centre (Hub) with contaminated soils from many, often small, sites. Treated material which is suitable may then be returned to the same site (or another site) for reclamation purposes, or may be sold in the open market as a fill material or aggregate.

The project considered 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. The potential audience is therefore wide, including problem holders, technology and waste disposal providers, regulators and Government Departments.

For further information contact the CLUSTER project manager, Dennis Barrie, by telephone 01743 342000, or by e-mail at barrd01@entecuk.co.uk.

To download a copy of the CLUSTER report in PDF format, see below.

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