Evaluation of Manufactured Soil Using Dredged Material from New York/New Jersey Harbor Newton Creek Site. Phase 1: Greenhouse Bench-Scale Test

Abstract

Abstract : Manufactured soil/beneficial reuse of dredged material is a potential strategy/alternative for long-term confined disposal. The development of a manufactured topsoil product will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove dredged material from confined disposal facilities (CDFs). This will increase the capacity of the CDFs and eliminate the shortage of CDFs for dredged material storage. In addition, manufactured topsoil from dredged material will potentially result in a product that can be reused in ways that are beneficial to the environment. Manufactured soil can be used for topsoil, bagged soil, landscaping, superfluid site cover, mining site cover, and landfill cover. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS, has established Cooperative Research and Development Agreements to develop technology for the manufacture of topsoil using sediment/dredged material (decontaminated and contaminated), cellulose waste materials, and nutrient-rich organic waste materials. The recycled soil manufacturing technology (RSMT) allowed the development of fertile topsoil that could be used in a beneficial, productive, and environmentally sound manner. In addition, the RSMT will provide an alternative to conventional disposal of the nation's waste/resource material from the Metcalf and Eddy process (decontaminated New York/New Jersey Harbor dredged material via solvent extraction) and untreated dredged material collected directly from the New York/New Jersey Harbor Newton Creek Site. Screening tests included proprietary blends with a range of dredged material content, a range of cellulose, and animal derived biosolids.