| Title: |
Rescue Project: Guidance - Management of contamination and reuse of soil and debris
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| Resource Type: |
document --> technical publication --> report
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| Country: |
EU Projects
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| Year: |
2005 |
| Availability: |
Rescue Consortium (2005) Rescue Project: Guidance - Management of contamination and reuse of soil and debris. Work Package 2 – Deliverable 2-1
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| Author 1/Producer: |
Rescue Consortium
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| Author / Producer Type: |
EC Project
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EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Brownfields
Contaminated land-->Remediation options-->Ex situ treatment technologies
Contaminated land-->Remediation options-->Excavation
Contaminated land-->Remediation options-->Recycling/reuse
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| Short description: |
The management of contaminated soils and debris is a key issue in the
redevelopment of many urban brownfield sites. Risk based management of land
contamination is an integral component of many brownfield projects due to the
potential cost of remediation, the perceived or real risk and other wider
administrative and social issues. It may include reuse of decontaminated
materials either onsite or offsite. It will often include further treatment or
disposal of materials that are unusable or unsuitable after the decontamination
process, including residues.
Decontamination techniques for contaminated soils have been well developed in
recent years and at many contaminated sites a combination of remediation
techniques is used. A sustainable approach entails identifying - during the initial
preparation phase - the appropriate techniques to ensure protection of
environmental receptors and minimisation of resource use and other wider
environmental effects. The cost of decontamination can often be very high.
Remediation can result in a transfer of contaminants to air and/or water, an
intensive use of resources and the degree of decontamination can be
inappropriate for the new use of a brownfield site. One critical step in the
redevelopment of contaminated land is the selection of assessment criteria that
determine the need for and extent of site remediation and, in consequence, the
cost which - if excessive - can be a barrier to the marketing potential of a site.
Pre-existing buildings and infrastructures, when not adapted for new uses, are
demolished and can represent an environmental problem if proper management
of resulting wastes is not in place. Such management includes identification and
segregation of materials and debris to allow for the reuse, recycling or disposal
of separate components. If the site clearance, demolition and decontamination
phases of a project are synchronised, the materials generated by each phase
can be managed within an integrated recycling/recovery/reuse programme,
minimising waste arising and the need for imported raw materials.
Policy development that simultaneously addresses environmental protection
and spatial planning issues is a major positive trend. This combined approach,
known as Risk Based Land Management (RBML), enables redevelopment
strategies and plans to drive remediation objectives, remediation
strategies/technologies and site investigation strategies/technologies.
Waste prevention is a strategic element in European waste policy. This policy
emphasises the development of measures to promote recycling, recovery and
- 7 -
reuse, appropriate use of economic instruments, reduction of the hazardous
nature of wastes, etc. However, the implementation of the EU Waste
Framework Directive (and its definition of waste) has played - and continues to
play - an ambiguous role in the management of contaminated soil (and in
particular in the way excavated, treated and reused materials are regarded by
regulatory authorities). As a consequence, a large percentage of excavated
materials generated by brownfield redevelopment are persistently consigned to
landfill disposal.
A significant amount of literature about contaminated land (EC research work
and networks like CARACAS, CLARINET, CABERNET1, NICOLE, US EPA
documents, OECD survey, etc.) was used as a background to the project. The
RESCUE approach - through its broader sustainable brownfield redevelopment
focus – made further significant advances by identifying sustainability
objectives and indicators, best practices and tools to link sustainability aspects
to brownfield redevelopment issues.
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Submitted By:
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Dr Stefan Gödeke WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 10/10/2006
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