In many projects, there is time pressure or a lack of space. Therefore, some contractors choose to take soil containing invasive species such as lupins or Japanese knotweed to landfill. This is often neither economical nor sustainable. Here are 7 reasons to reconsider:
- Environmental Protection and Sustainability
Landfilling soil often means that valuable soil resources are lost forever. By recycling soil, the need for extracting new soil and other raw materials is reduced, which helps protect natural resources and reduces new environmental impacts. Landfilling soil can lead to the destruction of natural areas and cause issues such as erosion and loss of biodiversity. Soil recycling, on the other hand, is a more sustainable solution that preserves existing resources. It can take up to 1,000 years to create new soil.
- Reduction of Landfill Costs
Landfilling soil can be expensive (although it is still too cheap in Norway). In most other countries, including nearly all EU countries, fees are imposed on landfilling to cover environmental costs and encourage alternative solutions such as recycling. Recycling soil can therefore be more economically advantageous than paying for landfill, especially in cases where large quantities of soil are required.
- Reduced Transport Costs
Transporting soil to landfill may involve long distances, which increases transport costs and carbon emissions from machinery and vehicles. If the soil can instead be treated and reused locally at the construction site, both costs and the environmental impact from transport can be reduced.
- Reuse in Projects
Recycled soil can be reused in many construction projects, such as landscaping, road construction, and foundation work. This helps reduce the need to extract new materials like sand and gravel, leading to less environmental impact. For projects that require large amounts of fill, recycled soil can be an effective solution both economically and logistically.
- Regulatory Requirements and Corporate Social Responsibility
Many countries have strict regulations and incentives to reduce landfilling and promote recycling. Soil recycling can help comply with environmental regulations and strengthen the company’s corporate social responsibility. As sustainability becomes increasingly important in tender processes, soil recycling can provide a competitive advantage when awarding contracts, which we increasingly see happening.
- Reduced Landfill Capacity
Landfill capacity in many countries is limited, and there are increasingly strict requirements for what can be landfilled. By reducing the amount of soil sent to landfill, pressure on landfill sites is reduced, extending their lifespan. Landfills should only be for materials that are impossible to recycle!
- CO2 Sequestration vs. Methane Emissions
Soil in a project will sequester CO2, whether used as a grassy slope or planted with shrubs and trees. Soil placed in a landfill will stop sequestering CO2 and instead emit methane.