Beneficial use of sediments, tools, pilot sites and measuring techniques developed and used within seven European Union INTERREG projects

Purpose

The EU Water Framework Directive (European Union Off J Eur Comm 2000) and EU Waste Framework Directive (European Union Off J Euro Union 2008) impacted the Beneficial Use (BU) of sediments in Europe. INTERREG has supported initiatives to change the perception that sediments are a waste. In this paper we provide an overview of tools, pilot sites and measuring techniques developed and used for the BU of sediments within seven European Union INTERREG projects. We illustrate the lessons learned regarding barriers and enablers for BU of sediments.

Materials and methods

BU of sediments is a combination of factors. The following aspects are considered. The sediment must be suitable for use and be in engineering compliance. The sediment must also need to meet the end of waste criteria, as well as to be in environmental compliance. To check in the field if engineering and environmental compliance is feasible, on-site analyses and decision support tools are needed. When BU use is possible, there must be a benefit, either in an added socio-economic value or in ecosystem services. To define benefits the impact of Business as Usual (BAU) should also be expressed. Stakeholder perception and spatial restraints determine areas for BU of sediments with spatial consensus.

Results and discussion

The pilots and case studies described in this paper are examples of different applications of BU of sediments in northwest Europe. The tools, equipment, pilot tests and on-site monitoring techniques developed by the identified INTERREG projects are useful as BU enablers, for both citizens (an enabler is what is in it for me versus a barrier like residents opposing to proposed developments in their local area or the Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) principle), and for regulators (what are the risks versus benefits as compared to BAU).

Conclusions

The main barriers for beneficial use of sediments are the social acceptance when sediments are used on land (often seen as waste disposal) and the extra direct cost versus the cost for disposal, while indirect benefits such as the potential for nature development, the impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or more locally on the extra jobs created, are generally not considered. Also, the impact of BAU is often not explicitly considered.