Case Study: Treatment Facility for Contaminated Soils.
Location: Scotland.
Download: treatment-facility-for-contaminated-soils.pdf

Brief

IKM Consulting was appointed by one of the largest waste management companies in the UK to develop a treatment centre for contaminated soils. The company wanted to offer a sustainable and cheaper alternative to the contaminated soils disposal market and find a suitable site for the operations.

Solution

IKM developed a set of criteria for the ‘perfect location' based on a financial analysis of cost effective transport distances and end use options for treated soils.

A number of potential sites were then identified for the treatment centre. Discussions followed with the owners of the sites, planning authorities and local SEPA officers to determine which of the sites were most suitable.

When the site location had been finalised, IKM submitted a planning application for a 2ha treatment area on behalf of the client. This included a complex assessment of potential environmental impacts on the neighbouring Special Protection Area and designing mitigation measures to minimise the impact.

Discussions followed with SEPA to establish the appropriate regulatory framework for the facility. SEPA agreed that the most appropriate way of regulating the site would be under the existing mobile plant licence of the client.

Outcome

IKM assisted the client in obtaining all the regulatory permits to run the facility. The site has now opened and is the first major soil treatment centre in Scotland. Due to the success of the facility, the client is now looking to expand the site.