Circular management of contaminated soil

Research Project, 2017 – 2019

In urban development and infrastructure projects, large volumes of contaminated soil must be handled. Only a minor fraction of this soil is re-used after treatment and most of the soil is disposed of. At the same time large volumes of virgin soil and rock have to be quarried. An increased and environmentally safe (including human health) re-use of contaminated soil would be an important contribution to an improved resource management that characterizes a circular economy. It would lead to reduced transports, reduced volumes of materials for disposal, and a more sustainable handling of contaminated soil. The aim of the project is to investigate the benefits to society from an increased re-use of contaminated soils and to develop an innovative method for classification of soil masses for an environmentally safe re-use. Application of such a method provides improved competitiveness to entrepreneurs through reduced costs for materials, transports and disposal.