Life Cycle Assessment of Management Scenarios for Dredged Sediments: Environmental Impacts Caused during Landfilling and Soil Conditioning

Laura Ferrans (), Alexander Nilsson, Frank Schmieder, Divya Pal, Mahboubeh Rahmati-Abkenar, Marcia Marques and William Hogland
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Laura Ferrans: Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Norrakajplan 6, 39231 Kalmar, Sweden
Alexander Nilsson: Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Norrakajplan 6, 39231 Kalmar, Sweden
Frank Schmieder: Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Norrakajplan 6, 39231 Kalmar, Sweden
Divya Pal: Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Norrakajplan 6, 39231 Kalmar, Sweden
Mahboubeh Rahmati-Abkenar: Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, 11523 Stockholm, Sweden
Marcia Marques: Department of Sanitary & Environmental Engineering, Rio de Janeiro State University-UERJ, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20550-900, Brazil
William Hogland: Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Norrakajplan 6, 39231 Kalmar, Sweden

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-17

Abstract: The management of dredged sediments is a challenging issue since it involves the interconnection of complex economic, social, technical and environmental aspects. The EU LIFE SURE project aimed to apply a more sustainable dredging technique to Malmfjärden Bay in Kalmar/Sweden (a shallow urban water body with a high content of nutrients) and, additionally, it involved beneficial uses for the dredged material, in line with the circular economy concept. To achieve this, a life cycle assessment (LCA) study was carried out to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with two scenarios: sediment landfilling (S1) and soil conditioning (S2). This LCA study also aimed to evaluate and compare the costs related to each scenario. S1 contemplated the construction and operation of the landfill for 100 years, including the collection and discharge of leachate and biogas. S2 included the use of sediments in soils and the avoidance of producing and using fertilisers. Results showed that (S2) soil conditioning (total impact: −6.4 PE) was the scenario with fewer environmental impacts and the best economic evaluation. The S2 scenario was mainly related to the positive environmental savings produced by reducing fertiliser consumption (which also avoided purchase costs). However, S2 was also linked to potential negative effects associated with eutrophication and toxicity categories of impacts due to the possible spread of nutrients and pollutants in terrestrial and aquatic environments. In order to mitigate this problem, the sediments could be pre-treated to reduce their risk of pollution. Moreover, the main impact of the landfilling scenario (S1, total impact: 1.6 PE) was the emission of global warming-contributing gases during the operation of the facility. Implementing the soil conditioning scenario was therefore recommended, in line with the aim of the LIFE SURE project. Finally, it was recommended that LCA studies should be applied more often in the future when selecting beneficial uses for dredged sediments. The decision-making process is facilitated when the positive and negative impacts produced by each handling option are considered.

Keywords: dredged sediments; LCA; soil conditioning; landfilling; sustainability; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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