A review on beneficial use of dredged marine sediment

Abstract

Removal of sediment whether from navigation channels or for specific construction projects, requires dredging. In Denmark, current options are to bypass the dredged marine sediment, use it (e.g. filling or feeding coast), or if the sediment cannot be used for any of these purposed or is contaminated (but below relevant action levels), it is typically dumped at sea. This option can have adverse impacts for the ecosystems receiving the sediment, yet in Denmark, most of the dredged marine sediment is dumped at sea. Instead of being regarded as a waste, dredged marine sediment needs to be considered a valuable resource. In this way, dredged marine sediment can benefit society and the environment, and have a'beneficial use'. The reasons why beneficial use of sediments is not yet a common practice is many folds and requires a change to long-established dredging and dumping practices. In this article we will update options for beneficial use of dredged marine sediment that are available worldwide, while as much as possible suggesting its applicability in Denmark as an example to hopefully stimulate beneficial use practices of dredged marine sediment.