Sludge deposit capacity in the Netherlands by region, 2001
If the dispersal and simple processing of dredging sludge are not options, landfill in deposits is the remaining possibility. What is the available capacity in dredging-sludge deposits?
Note on the available capacity of dredging-sludge deposits
Current national capacity is adequate to deal with the expected amount of dredging sludge up to and including 2011. However, there are difficulties at the regional level. There are agreements for most existing deposits about the types of sludge they can accommodate; not everybody can deposit their sludge in every deposit. Large haulage distances (and therefore high expenses) can also be a difficulty in terms of taking sludge to wet deposits where there is still capacity.
Planning procedures are in progress for three deposits (Hollands Diep, Koegorspolder and Maasdal). If these deposits are established, it will be possible to resolve almost completely the waterbed problem for the regions of South Holland, North Brabant, Zeeland and Limburg. However, there is still a shortage of landfill capacity, particularly for North Holland and Utrecht and for the three northern provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe.
Policy
The objective is to process, or where possible recover, at least 20% of the sludge that does not qualify for distribution. The destination of dredging sludge is subject to an order of preference under the Fourth Water Management Policy Document and the Policy Paper on the Removal of Dredging Sludge (Beleidsstandpunt Verwijdering Baggerspecie).
1. In principle, the dispersal of dredging sludge is the first option when this is allowed and in so far as it is safe.
2. If possible in technical or environmental terms, dredging sludge can be used as soil or as a building material.
3. If dispersal or beneficial use of the material are not possible, the next option, when this can be done at reasonable cost, is to process the sludge to produce recoverable building materials.
4. Landfill of the material in a deposit is an option only when the possibilities above are not feasible.
