Soil Classification

Brief: Undertake testing of in-situ soils to classify them in accordance with the Excavated Natural Material Order (2014) and NSW EPA Waste Classification guidelines.

Problem: Rural areas with a history of agriculture can potentially be contaminated and as a result any soil leaving the site could create contamination to the receiving site. The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act) and the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 control all activities that might harm our environment and prohibit how certain materials can be recycled.

Challenge: Earthwise Environmental (EE) needed to determine whether large volumes of soil to be excavated from the site were free from contamination so that the material could be safely reused at another site. Council needed the work completed in a short time frame as construction was to commence shortly.

Action: EE immediately undertook sampling of the in-soil and sent it for laboratory testing.

Outcome: EE did not find any contaminants of concern and were able to classify the soils within the proposed excavation corridor as Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM). The client was able to find a recipient for the VENM material (saving it from going to landfill) and both parties were able to comply with their respective legislative requirements. In the end the material was beneficially reused.