Posted on December 4, 2023
Envisan, the environmental subsidiary of Jan De Nul Group, received the ‘End of Waste’ certificate from the Service Public de Wallonie (SPW-ARNE). This certificate has been granted for the physicochemical washing plant for contaminated soils at Envisan’s site in the port of Liège. The washing plant reflects the company’s motto: ‘Circular solutions for a better planet’.
Since 2021, Envisan has been operating a plant for washing contaminated soils in the port of Liège. The result is washed sand and gravel that is offered to the local construction market. A great example of circularity that allows the building materials market to save on non-renewable resources. Moreover, this installation was the first of its kind for the Walloon market.
An Smet, Director of Envisan at Jan De Nul Group: “Thanks to its trimodal location, the port of Liège is an ideal operating base for us. Contaminated soil can be delivered by road, water or train. We focus primarily on inland shipping to keep our CO2 footprint low there as well. We are particularly proud that this ‘End of Waste’ certificate recognises our efforts to fully embrace circular solutions.”
Envisan is fully committed to maximum circularity of raw materials.
The physicochemical plant has a capacity to produce in two days an average of 800 tonnes of washed sand and gravel from 1,000 tonnes of heavily contaminated soil. In this way, Envisan pays a major contribution to the circularity of building materials. On the one hand, it allows the building materials market to save on non-renewable raw materials from quarries. On the other hand, contaminated sites can be prepared for redevelopment.
The remediated material is mainly destined for the local market.
Contaminated soils are not suitable for use as backfill without in-depth remediation. Envisan offers its customers in the construction industry the opportunity to unload contaminated soils and sail back with a washed load of sand and gravel.
The contaminated soils arrive at Île Monsin by ship or truck. The use of the railway for loading and unloading is currently being studied as well. By water, the washed soils go to locations that are further away or have a high demand for washed sand and gravel. In this way, Envisan also reduces its carbon footprint in transport.