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I SUSPECT MOST READING this article subscribe to the notion that it
makes good business and environmental sense to regard excess soils
generated from construction activities for their potential as a resource
for reuse instead of waste for disposal. The ever-increasing bene昀椀cial
reuse of these soils instead of the linear “dig and dump” practices of the
past has resulted in profound changes in earthworks management that
are consistent with the tenets of the circular economy, a foundational
element of sustainable business. Bene昀椀cial soil reuse ticks all the
boxes—but there’s still a disconnect.
Unfortunately, organizations that promote circular economy initiatives
both in Canada and abroad have yet to consider this hugely impactful
activity as being within their scope. Don’t just take my word for it.
Nicholas Willenbrock of the UK is the highly respected Operations
Director of CL:AIRE (Contaminated Land: Applications in Real
Environments) and the Director of Willenbrock Ltd. CL:AIRE is regarded
as one of the leading sustainable land use organizations in the world.
“Despite representing one of the largest material streams generated
by the construction sector, excavated soils are frequently overlooked
in the circular economy,” says Willenbrock. “In my experience,
discussions around circularity often focus on manufactured products
and waste streams while the bene昀椀cial use of soils receives comparatively
little attention. This is extremely unfortunate as the sustainable management
and reuse of soil delivers some of the most immediate and measurable
environmental bene昀椀ts available to the industry.”
What about bene昀椀cial reuse?
In the 1960s, programs emerged to reduce garbage by recycling materials
such as cans, glass and newspapers rather than consigning them to land昀椀ll
or incineration. What began as an initiative to encourage recycling has
resulted in waste being viewed for its potential bene昀椀cial reuse instead of a
throwaway. The movement has undergone several iterations over the past
昀椀ve decades, been rebranded as the “Circular Economy” and is now the
hallmark of sustainable business practices with wide acceptance globally. The
matrix of organizations, thinktanks and networks is vast and itself a large
business.
By comparison, circular practices in earthworks management are
comparatively new and still gaining purchase in many regions.
In my view, the primary reason for bene昀椀cial soil reuse not being included by
circular economy organizations is simply that they have not thought about it.
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