K_Torrance_et_al.mp4

Recording of presentations at the Suricates project closing conference

Title : Practical recycling of dredged canal sediment – key outcomes from the SURICATE pilot trials in Scotland.

Authors : Keith TORRANCE*1, Richard LORD1 , Alasdair HAMILTON2, and Paul BERRY2 1 University of Strathclyde, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, 75 Montrose St. Glasgow, G1 1XJ, (UK) 2 Scottish Canals, Canal House, Applecross Street, Glasgow, G4 9SP2, (UK) * Corresponding author e-mail: keith.w.torrance@strath.ac.uk

Summary :

Reuse options for dredged sediments are under investigation in many countries as a response to waste reduction directives and carbon footprint reduction. However, there is a significant knowledge gap between laboratory-scale experiments, using kilograms of sediment, and the pilot-scale trials involving thousands of tonnes of dredged sediment. Practical considerations, such as handling, transport, and the staging of large volumes of sediment are key factors in determining the viability of a reuse option, aside from the physical and geochemical properties of the material.

To investigate reuse options on a pilot scale, three projects on Scottish Canals were undertaken in Scotland from 2019 until 2022 as part of the Interreg funded SURICATES (Sediment Uses as Resources in Circular and Territorial EconomieS) Project. At Bowling, a pilot study in Bowling was undertaken to investigate phyto-conditioning of sediment dredged from the Forth & Clyde Canal as a replacement for topsoil, which resulted in over 500m3 of suitable cover. On the Caledonian Canal at Laggan, 15,000 m3 of sediment was suction dredged from the canal and repurposed as aggregates for concrete manufacture and as raw construction materials. Finally, options for creating pozzolanic additives were investigated using sediment dredged from the Forth and Clyde at Stockingfield. A key outcome was the importance of considering transportation costs and coordinating the sediment treatment timeframe with the planned reuse timescale. Collectively, these three pilot projects provided valuable practical knowledge for recycling dredged sediments and provided a framework for assessing reuse options at future sites.

Acknowledgements: The SURICATES project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the Interreg NWE programme 2014-2020.