Biostore: towards sustainable composite waste reuse

The paper describes the construction and monitoring of pilot scale composite emplacements at two sites in Yorkshire, in which designed combinations of coarse mineral (limestone, coal shale or construction & demolition waste) were compacted together with fines (stabilised sewage sludge with fly ash and lime or sodium hydrogen sulphate) within lined systems. Results after 18-24 months indicated that the composites were mechanically and microbiologically stable, and effectively isolated from the surrounding environment. The emplacements - termed Biostore - showed the potential for sustainable waste management by permanent co-utilisation of organic and mineral wastes in civil engineering groundwork for brown field site restoration to amenities or the light built environment.