VALorisation of Sediments in Earthworks (VALSE) using microbial cementation

Objective

Dredging has historically been carried out to drain land, improve navigation/shipping traffic efficiency, and prevent flooding. In Europe, about 200 million m3 of sediments are dredged from ports or waterways annually. Due to their poor engineering characteristics and potential contamination, dredged sediments are largely classified as hazardous waste to be disposed off. This goes against the European Green Deal and current EU waste policies for a circular economy. Solutions for the beneficial use of dredged sediments are urgently required to turn this voluminous waste into an opportunity. In this context, the aim of VALSE is to develop and apply novel nature-based techniques for the stabilisation and valorisation of dredged sediments as suitable and robust fill material for flood defences and other civil infrastructure earthworks, thus addressing societal needs for the provision of resilient, low-carbon infrastructure, protection from natural hazards, environmental protection and hazardous waste reduction. The proposed solutions will be tested both in the laboratory and in real environment and will be evaluated in terms of sustainability. Case studies will include historic flood defences in the UK made of dredged sediment, and fresh dredged sediments from UK rivers & estuaries and Italian ports.