Managing Dredged Sediments: Evolution of Land Deposits and Assessment of Beneficial Use
Résumé
Sediments are periodically dredged to maintain waterways and to allow a safe shipping in channels and rivers. However, merely dumping dredged sediments in the sea or managing land deposits without any beneficial reuse does not fit within a circular economy perspective. This study aims to follow and monitor the evolution of dredged sediments that were deposited on land and to suggest their beneficial use. In this investigation, dredged sediments were collected from ten deposit sites in the Normandy region (Le Havre and Rouen ports, northwestern France) and analyzed in terms of physical, chemical, and organic contents; these parameters are used to determine how sediments can be managed in a safe and beneficial way. Among the 10 collected samples, one sediment was already deposited in a site (Tancarville) and was monitored for 10 years. The results showed that the deposited sediment became coarser, salinity and moisture decreased, and organic matter accumulated. This evolution is correlated with flora flourishing in the aged deposit and, thus, a first step toward soil formation from dredged sediment. Consequently, the dredged sediment naturally aged into a deposit and became suitable for agricultural use. Finally, adjusting standards and regulations can lead to better use of dredged sediments and other solid wastes that inspire to reach a circular economy and eventually attain environmental sustainability.
Origine | Accord explicite pour ce dépôt |
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