The Reuse of Excavated Soils from Construction and Demolition Projects: Limitations and Possibilities

Sarah E. Hale, Antonio José Roque, Gudny Okkenhaug, Erlend Sørmo, Thomas Lenoir, Christel Carlsson, Darya Kupryianchyk, Peter Flyhammar and Bojan Žlender
Additional contact information
Sarah E. Hale: Geotechnics and Environment, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0855 Oslo, Norway
Antonio José Roque: Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil, 1700-075 Lisboa, Portugal
Gudny Okkenhaug: Geotechnics and Environment, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0855 Oslo, Norway
Erlend Sørmo: Geotechnics and Environment, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0855 Oslo, Norway
Thomas Lenoir: Laboratoire Materiaux pour les Infrastructures de Transport (MIT), Departement Materiaux et Structures (MAST), Université Gustave Eiffel, 44344 Bouguenais, France
Christel Carlsson: Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI), SE-581 93 Linköping, Sweden
Darya Kupryianchyk: Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI), SE-581 93 Linköping, Sweden
Peter Flyhammar: Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI), SE-581 93 Linköping, Sweden
Bojan Žlender: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The construction and demolition of infrastructure can produce a surplus of excavated soils that ends up at landfills. This practice is not sustainable, and approaches are needed to reduce soil waste and minimize environmental and human health hazards. The “Reuse of urban soils and sites” Working Group in the European Large Geotechnical Institute Platform (ELGIP) works towards a safe and resource efficient use of excavated soils for construction. By considering relevant literature and practicals based on experience in the participating ELGIP countries (France, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden), this study presents current practice related to the reuse of excavated soils, and the main barriers (regulatory, organizational, logistical and material quality) to effectively reuse them. Results show that there is no consensus on the best strategies to manage excavated soils in urban areas. This paper provides suggestions of ways in which stakeholders can increase reuse of excavated soils.

Keywords: sustainable engineering; excavated soil; reuse; building project; case studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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