Earthworks and construction projects can involve the excavation of significant quantities of soils and other materials such as concrete, which can potentially be re-used either on- or off-site, but which otherwise may have to be disposed of as waste. Regardless of whether such material is contaminated, it must be carefully managed and documented in order to ensure it is suitable for any intended re-use and demonstrate that the materials have been re-used in accordance with Waste Legislation.

 

 

All material excavated on a site is essentially classed as waste that requires disposal, unless it is covered by one of the regulatory regimes that permit re-use. A U1 Waste Exemption allows the use of waste soils in construction but only up to a maximum volume of 1000m3. Beyond this, the CL:AIRE Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP) allows suitable soils to be re-used on the site of origin, or uncontaminated natural soils to be re-used on another site. Environmental Permits and other mechanisms such as the WRAP protocol for recycling aggregates are alternative approaches where an exemption or the DoWCoP do not apply.

The main principle to consider is that it must be demonstrated in the early stages of a project that there is definite use for excavated materials and that the materials are suitable for that use, as the re-use of unsuitable or excess materials without a defined purpose would be classed as waste disposal. Careful design is often required to ensure an overall cut-fill balance and avoid the creation of an excess of material, which may then be classed as waste and require off-site disposal.

G&J can advise on the most appropriate and cost-effective solutions for waste minimization and re-use, classify the material in terms of suitability and, where necessary, ensure the correct disposal route where excess material cannot be re-used.