Excavated soil will soon no longer be waste

Excavated soil will soon no longer be waste

“There is enormous potential that has not yet been exploited.” Tristan Tallafuss, Managing Director of the Austrian Building Materials Recycling Association (BRV), is referring to excavated soil - a material that is produced in almost every construction project and has so far mainly been treated as waste. The figures from the Federal Waste Management Plan make it clear how much could be collected: According to this, around 70 million tons of waste are generated in Austria every year. 41 million tonnes of this – almost 60 percent – ​​are excavated soil. This means that excavated soil is by far the largest single item in Austria's waste generation. From Tallafuss's point of view, it could be used "on a large scale directly on the construction sites, without any treatment being necessary".

Soon there will be no more waste

The subjunctive should now disappear. The Ministry of the Environment is currently developing a regulation that will define the so-called “waste” for excavated soil in a legally secure and practical manner. According to the current draft, a certified expert should be able to examine the material on site. If a certain quality is proven, the material loses its classification as waste. It receives the status of a product and can be used without any further waste regulations.

The current survey among readers of the Bauzeitung shows how important and practically relevant this topic is. The answers speak for themselves: 73 percent consider the planned regulation to be very sensible because it offers great potential for recycling and cost reductions. Another 15 percent see advantages at least under certain conditions. They just judge critically – they expect additional bureaucracy and risks.

Until now, dealing with excavated soil on the construction site was often associated with high disposal costs, long transport routes and complex documentation. The fact that there is enormous potential for efficiency here is also clear from the statements made by those surveyed. This is how one participant puts it: “It can only get easier, better and cheaper.”

This assessment is shared by many participants – but by far not everyone. When looking at the possible savings potential, opinions differ: 23 percent think it is very high and 39 percent think it is moderate. On the other hand, eight consider it to be low and 31 percent do not expect any savings at all. These answers show that the industry is heterogeneous - not every company regularly carries out earthworks or has logistical options for interim storage.

Almost all respondents (more than 92 percent) emphasize that clear and simple criteria for waste disposal are essential. It's about practicality and legal certainty - no one wants to operate in a gray area or be slowed down by complicated requirements. 62 percent each also demand legal certainty to avoid penalties and a reduction in documentation and reporting requirements. 58 percent value fast and inexpensive testing procedures, and at least 39 percent would like support in implementation. This shows that the industry is not only open to the planned regulation, but also constructive - but on the condition that it is designed to be practical.

Several respondents point to concrete options for action: cooperation with landfills and processing companies, own storage facilities and the clear separation of contaminated from uncontaminated materials. Another aspect is becoming increasingly important – image. One comment reads: “We see an opportunity in the sustainability image because customers are paying more and more attention to ecological construction.”