--- title: Information Hub description: Specialists in soils management services in the UK for compliant, cost-effective solutions for managing contaminated surplus soils. Get in touch today. --- [Skip to content](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/information-hub#main-content) ![Soils Management Logo](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Soils%20Management%20Limited%20Logo.png?width=1523&height=1032&name=Soils%20Management%20Limited%20Logo.png)Homepage - [About](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/about?hsLang=en-gb) - [Services](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/services?hsLang=en-gb) - [Information Hub](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/information-hub) - [Contact](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/contact?hsLang=en-gb) - [Blog](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en-gb) [Get a Quote](mailto:enquiries@soilsmanagement.co.uk) - [About](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/about?hsLang=en-gb) - [Services](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/services?hsLang=en-gb) - [Information Hub](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/information-hub) - [Contact](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/contact?hsLang=en-gb) - [Blog](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en-gb) [Get a Quote](mailto:enquiries@soilsmanagement.co.uk) # How we save money ### Providing the lowest-cost compliant solution for construction soils ![shutterstock\_1662267427](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1662267427.jpg?width=2000&height=1054&name=shutterstock_1662267427.jpg "shutterstock_1662267427") ## How We Manage Your Soil ### 1. Understand the Project We review the site location, construction programme, excavation requirements, quantities and available technical information.  However, the client's needs are the most critical factor as a first step. ### 2. Understand the Material Ground investigation information, chemical analysis and other available data are reviewed to establish what is known about the excavated material. ### 3. Establish the Regulatory Position We consider waste status, classification and the regulatory requirements associated with the proposed management route. ### 4. Identify the Options Rather than assuming that material requires landfill disposal, we consider reuse, treatment and recovery as a first step. ### 5. Reduce the Cost The available options can then be compared on a project-specific basis, including factors such as treatment costs, gate fees, transport, tax status (if applicable) and programme. ### 6. Recommend a Solution The result is a clear soil-management strategy designed around the requirements of the project. ## Construction Material Problems We Can Help Solve - You have received laboratory results but are unsure what they mean for disposal. - A tender contains an obligation to include managing any contaminated soil that you need a cost for - Your project has significantly more material than originally anticipated. - Soil assumed to be inert has failed acceptance criteria. - Unexpected contamination has been encountered during excavation. - A proposed disposal route has become unavailable. - You want to establish whether material currently destined for landfill could instead be reused, treated or recovered. ## Who we solve these problems for - Main contractors - Civil engineering contractors - Developers - Housebuilders - Groundworkers - Infrastructure contractors - Environmental consultants - Cost consultants - Project managers - Remediation contractors Whatever stage your project has reached, early review can help prevent expensive soil-management decisions becoming embedded in the construction programme. ![asbestos in soil](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1713591391.jpg?width=4000&height=2670&name=shutterstock_1713591391.jpg) ## Dealing with the unexpected We can immediately attend site and provide a safe system of work for working around hazardous materials such as asbestos. [Contact us](mailto:enquiries@soilsmanagement.co.uk) ## What Is Contaminated Soil Management? Effective contaminated soil management begins before a tipper arrives on site. The first question should not be: Where can we dispose of this soil? It should be: What is this material and what options are available for managing it? Depending on the circumstances, we could justify or implement the following: - retaining material on site; - reuse within the development; - treatment; - transfer to an appropriate recovery operation; - non-hazardous disposal; - hazardous treatment or disposal; or - a combination of different routes for different soil types. ##### Separating and correctly managing different materials can have a substantial effect on overall project cost. ![Excavator Driver In White Paper Suit](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Excavator%20Driver%20In%20White%20Paper%20Suit.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=Excavator%20Driver%20In%20White%20Paper%20Suit.png) ## Dealing with historical underground structures Dealing with unrecorded historical structures as part of a soil management plan is one of the areas we are able to help [Explore more](mailto:enquiries@soilsmanagement.co.uk) ## Why Early Soil Management Matters Decisions made during tendering and pre-construction can determine the cost of soil management months later. An assumption that thousands of tonnes of material require a particular disposal route can become embedded in a project budget without the alternatives ever being properly assessed. Early review provides an opportunity to identify: - unnecessary disposal; - incorrect classification assumptions; - potential soil segregation; - reuse opportunities; - treatment options; - recovery routes; - alternative receiving facilities; - additional testing requirements; and - potential commercial risks. ![microscopy for assessing asbestos ](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1562438119.jpg?width=5616&height=3744&name=shutterstock_1562438119.jpg) ## Reassurance Monitoring We can provide a wide range of monitoring strategies to reassure the site workers and general public that mitigation measures used on the site are effective for emissions control.   [Explore more](mailto:enquiries@soilsmanagement.co.uk) # Soil Classification & Waste Assessment ## Understanding your soil before deciding what to do with it Correctly understanding excavated material is fundamental to selecting an appropriate management route. Soils Management helps construction projects assess soil information, determine the appropriate waste-classification requirements and understand how classification affects reuse, treatment, recovery and disposal. ## Is Excavated Soil Automatically Waste? No. Whether excavated material is waste depends on the circumstances in which it is produced and how it will subsequently be managed. This distinction is important because waste legislation and associated controls apply where material is waste. We are competent in the needs of DoWCoP and waste regulation and have internal Qualified Persons to independently support your Materials Management Plans from start to finish. ## Hazardous or Non-Hazardous? Where soil is waste, the producer or holder must ensure that it is appropriately classified. Chemical analysis forms an important part of this assessment, but classification should not simply consist of comparing laboratory concentrations with a generic table. The nature of the contaminants, relevant hazardous properties, sampling information and knowledge of the waste all need to be considered. ## Non-Hazardous Does Not Automatically Mean Inert This is one of the most important distinctions in construction soil management. Hazardous, non-hazardous and inert should not be treated as interchangeable disposal labels. Material classified as non-hazardous waste does not automatically meet the requirements for acceptance at an inert landfill. Likewise, landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria should not be used as a substitute for determining whether a waste is hazardous. We can assess your data quickly and provide a same day response. ## WAC Testing Waste Acceptance Criteria testing is associated with landfill acceptance. It answers a different question from waste classification. A common mistake is to obtain a WAC test and assume that the results alone establish whether excavated soil is hazardous or non-hazardous. We understand the difference and prevent delays, inappropriate testing and incorrect disposal assumptions. ## Have Laboratory Results but Don't Know What They Mean? Send us your ground investigation and laboratory information. We can review the available data and help establish the next steps.  ![asbestos in soil sample](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_409903822.jpg?width=5054&height=3370&name=shutterstock_409903822.jpg) ## UKAS accredited materials testing We can undertake formal testing to characterise waste alongside rapid field testing to compliance with the streetworks protocol and ensure an audit trail of analysis is data to support materials management decisions on site. Explore more # Soil Reuse on Construction Sites ## Can excavated soil remain a resource rather than become a disposal cost? Where appropriate, retaining and reusing suitable soil can provide significant commercial and environmental benefits. The key is ensuring that reuse is technically suitable and undertaken within an appropriate regulatory framework. Soils Management helps construction projects assess opportunities for the legitimate reuse of excavated materials. ## Why Consider Reuse? Excavating soil, transporting it away and then importing replacement material can create substantial cost. Where suitable material can legitimately be retained and reused, projects may be able to reduce: - disposal costs; - haulage; - imported aggregate or fill; - vehicle movements; - programme risk; and - unnecessary consumption of virgin materials. - protection of human health and the environment; - suitability for use; - certainty of use. Reuse should therefore be considered early in project planning. ## Is Excavated Soil Waste? The answer depends on the circumstances. The intended use of the material, certainty of reuse, suitability, quantity and how the project manages the material can all be relevant. This is why soil reuse should not simply be assumed because material is being moved from one part of a construction site to another. ## CL:AIRE Definition of Waste Code of Practice The CL:AIRE Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice provides an established framework that can be relevant to the reuse of excavated materials on development sites. Projects using the Code of Practice need to demonstrate that the proposed use of material meets the applicable requirements. This can include consideration of: ## Materials Management Plans A Materials Management Plan records how excavated materials are intended to be managed. A robust plan should reflect the actual development and should not simply be treated as paperwork completed after earthworks have begun. Early preparation allows the soil strategy to be incorporated into excavation, earthworks and construction planning. ## On-Site and Off-Site Opportunities Depending on the project and applicable regulatory framework, opportunities may exist to manage materials within the site of origin, between appropriate development sites, or through another suitably authorised route. Each scenario needs to be considered on its own facts. ## Before Paying to Remove Soil... It is worth establishing whether some or all of the material can legitimately be retained or reused. For large projects, that question can have a significant effect on cost. ![Scientist in lab](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Workstation%20With%20Keyboard%20Monitor%20And%20Mouse.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=Workstation%20With%20Keyboard%20Monitor%20And%20Mouse.png) ## A lab is not always a long way from site We have significant experience in field testing.  Using both X-ray fluorescence and UV fluorescence we can provide rapid metals and hydrocarbon concentrations for expedited decision making.  This testing is normally replicated in a laboratory to ensure that all reported data is independently reported by a UKAS accredited laboratory.  [Explore more](mailto:enquiries@soilsmanagement.co.uk) # Contaminated Soil Treatment ## Assessing treatment as an alternative to direct disposal Contaminated soil does not necessarily need to be sent directly to landfill. Depending on the contaminants, soil characteristics, quantities and available facilities, treatment may provide an alternative management route. Soils Management assesses treatment alongside reuse, recovery and disposal to determine whether it offers a practical and commercially competitive solution. ## Why Treat Contaminated Soil? Treatment may be undertaken for a variety of reasons. Depending on the material and treatment process, it may: - reduce contaminant concentrations; - alter contaminant mobility; - enable subsequent recovery; - provide an alternative to direct landfill; - reduce reliance on hazardous disposal routes; or - improve the overall commercial solution. - contaminant type; - concentration; - soil composition; - moisture; - particle size; - organic content; - quantity; - programme; and - the intended use after treatment. Treatment is not automatically the best answer. Its value needs to be assessed against the characteristics of the material and the complete cost of the alternative routes. ## Treatment Options Different contaminants and soil types require different approaches. Potential technologies can include biological, physical and chemical treatment processes, stabilisation and other specialist techniques. The suitability of a process depends on factors including: ## Treatment vs Disposal The headline gate fee is only one part of the calculation. A proper comparison may need to consider haulage, treatment, traffic management, carbon footprint, tax liability, programme, volume and project risk. We compare the overall solution to ensure best value and ensuring we meet the clients needs. ## Could Your Contaminated Soil Be Treated? Send us the available analysis, estimated quantity and project location. We can assess potential treatment and alternative management routes. ![Organized Soil Screening and Stockpiles](https://www.soilsmanagement.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Organized%20Soil%20Screening%20and%20Stockpiles.png?width=1450&height=1085&name=Organized%20Soil%20Screening%20and%20Stockpiles.png) ## Using soil treatment to save costs We have one of the UK's most experienced teams for treating soils using biological treatment with several millions of tonnes treated in the last thirty years.  We have mobile treatment licenses that can be used for a range of biological, chemical and physical treatment. [Explore more](mailto:enquiries@soilsmanagement.co.uk) # Construction Soil Disposal ## Finding the right destination for contaminated and surplus soil Where soil cannot appropriately be reused, treated or recovered, disposal may be necessary. But selecting a disposal facility should not simply be a matter of finding the nearest landfill. Waste classification, facility acceptance, taxation, transport, programme and the characteristics of the material can all affect the final solution. Soils Management identifies and compares appropriate routes to help construction projects achieve a compliant and commercially competitive outcome. ## Contaminated Soil Disposal The appropriate destination depends on what the material actually contains and how it has been classified. Different routes may be required for: - inert soil; - non-hazardous soil; - hazardous soil, frequently comprising; - hydrocarbon, metals and asbestos-containing material; - mixed construction arisings; and - soils requiring treatment before their final disposal to ensure permit compliance. Understanding the material and implementing the waste hierarchy before seeking disposal prices can substantially improve the procurement process. ## Hazardous Soil Disposal Hazardous classification can significantly restrict available destinations and increase management costs. Before committing material to hazardous disposal, it is therefore important to ensure that: - the waste has been appropriately classified; - relevant treatment options have been considered; - recovery opportunities have been assessed where appropriate; and - the proposed destination is suitable for the material. ## Non-Hazardous Soil Disposal Non-hazardous soil can cover a broad range of materials. Non-hazardous classification does not automatically mean that the material is inert or that it can be accepted at an inert landfill. The receiving facility's permit and acceptance requirements still need to be satisfied. ## Inert Soil Inert disposal can provide a cost-effective route for suitable materials, but the term inert should not simply be used as another word for clean or non-hazardous soil. The relevant acceptance requirements must be established for the proposed destination. ## The Real Cost of Soil Disposal The cheapest gate fee does not necessarily provide the lowest project cost. We consider: - facility gate fee; - haulage distance; - payload; - turnaround time; - landfill tax where applicable; - treatment costs; - waiting time; - project programme; - volume; - acceptance risk; and - alternative recovery or treatment routes. For significant soil volumes, relatively small differences in the cost per tonne when taking into account all the factors on-site and off-site can result in substantial project savings. ## Don't Start With a Disposal Price Before asking, 'How much will it cost to dispose of this soil?', it is worth asking, 'Does all of this soil actually need to be disposed of in this way?' That question is at the heart of our approach. ## Request a Materials Disposal Review Send us: - Site postcode - Estimated quantity and timescales - Available laboratory results - Ground investigation report including remediation strategy - Required excavation dates We can review the available options and help identify an appropriate solution and costs.    ## Ready to save money [Get in touch](mailto:enquiries@soils.management.co.uk) ## Join our team Let's work on great things together and enjoy all the benefits of Soils Management Limited. 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