Glass landfill material characterization in the Kingdom of Glass

Important results from the project

The aim of the project was to build key knowledge regarding the nature of deposited content in several of the sites in the Kingdom of Crystal in order to allow for the evaluation of potential innovative remediation and valuation pathways for the deposited materials. Through the performed studies, key advances were made in understanding how to effectively locate desired (Pb rich) deposits, how to sort target materials from non-target materials, and what considerations would need to be accounted for in downstream storage and enrichment activities.

Expected long term effects

We have found no major obstacles that would make an alternative to dig & dump remediation of the Kingdom of Crystal impossible. In fact an alternative, more sustainable, way seems more viable with this new knowledge. Such an alternative system could open up possibilities for the value extraction from contaminated sites as well as more effective treatment of the remaining soil fractions. As opposed to moving contaminants from one location to another, such alternative approaches could address the underlying problem instead of moving it into the future.

Approach and implementation

Toward the project’s aim, several objectives were formed focusing on: prioritizing deposits, material characteristics, and physical properties or sorted fractions. These objectives were fulfilled via several methods including GIS and geophysical analysis (prioritization), on site sampling and multi-method lab analysis, e.g. size and content analysis, (characteristics), and leaching tests (properties of fractions).