5 practical ways to drive sustainable soil use and cut construction costs:

Soils in construction are often mishandled, misclassified, and sent to landfills without much thought of their potential for reuse, the environmental costs of waste disposal, or the increasing pressures of UK landfill scarcity and sustainability targets. So what can you do if you're a contractor or a land developer to better manage construction soils?

1. Plan Ahead and conduct thorough soil assessments and investigations before starting construction projects.

? Develop a comprehensive soil management plan that includes strategies for on-site retention and reuse of soils. Have you got a solid (pun intended!) Materials Management Plan in place? Have you considered transfer and reuse of clean soils under the DoW CoP (Definition of Waste: Code of Practice by CL:AIRE)?

2. Prioritise On-Site Soil Reuse:

? Focus on reusing soils on-site by incorporating excavation materials back into the project.

? Implement engineering techniques such as soil stabilisation to improve the properties of on-site soils, reducing the need for soil removal, haulage and external fill materials.

3. Use Recycled and Reclaimed Materials:

? Utilise recycled and reclaimed materials, including recycled aggregates and reclaimed soils, in construction projects. These materials can often meet project specifications while reducing the demand for new resources.

? Source recycled construction materials from local suppliers to minimise haulage-related environmental impacts.

4. Prioritise Use of Soil Treatment Facilities:

? When faced with contaminated soil and limited in-situ treatment options, find a soil treatment facility that effectively treats contaminated materials, avoiding landfill disposal and achieving cost savings.

5. Speak to Experienced Soil Specialists:

? We understand that implementation of best practices for sustainable soil use can be confusing for many contractors. That’s why we are here to provide practical sound advice, so that you have a clear picture of what to do and where to start. From site assessment, sampling and robust waste classification to managing soils on and off site, we're here to help (call 01179244990 or email us at [email protected])

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