Envirotis Holding undertakes the recultivation of abandoned red mud or dust-ash disposal sites. Its mission is to integrate reservoirs of this type into the landscape without recourse to state funding using a self-sustaining approach, thus decreasing their pollution of the environment.
Currently, such disposal sites serve three separate waste management and environmental protection functions:
- Hazardous waste disposal site abandoned for several years and awaiting closure: the red mud and flue ash at the site have not been treated.
- Recultivation: aims to separate the waste from its environment and provide for integration with the landscape.
- Waste utilization: typically refers to the production by recultivation of fertile cover material from production waste and by-products.
History of disposal sites
Alumina production and the disposal of red mud and flue-ash from the power plant has caused significant pollution to the ground waters and air in the area. The red or grey dust cloud that has formed above the surface of these abandoned disposal sites has significantly impacted the living standards of the population of the area. Until the 1980s, several unsuccessful attempts were made to mitigate the environmental damage, to cover the disposal sites, and integrate them into the landscape; however, in just a few years, the fertile soil used for recultivation became alkalized by ions migrating from the waste, and tests performed on construction waste and industrial by-products produced similarly negative results.
Land-coverage successes
In 1986 one of the Holding’s predecessor companies began an experiment in an attempt to solve the above problems. As a result, a special cover material was developed that was able to produce the desired results in recultivation and reintegration with the landscape. A recultivated surface on the one hand prevents the infiltration of rain-water into the waste mass, and, on the other, integrates harmonically into the landscape through the inclusion of vegetation. After almost three decades of effort, a disposal site of almost 170 hectares was covered, and a fully dust-free state achieved even before 100% coverage was obtained. Thanks to landscaping, auxiliary work, and the covering of disposal sites, ground water quality parameters are now in a state of continuous improvement. Some pollution components have completely disappeared, while for others, a fortuitous downward trend has been observed.
Cover material
The cover material in question is produced during the recycling process through biological degradation, typically from production waste and by-products. This material has features and components similar to those of the natural soil, and—as proven by decades of experience—is suitable for both planting and the development of wildlife. The materials (mainly sewage sludge) processed during waste recycling together offer the organic nutrients, inorganic components, and structural materials that render it similar to natural soil. This method reproduces the soil formation processes that occur in nature under controlled conditions and in a manner that requires considerably less time.
EU-compliant, three-in-one technology
- Waste recycling: processing of production waste and by-products to produce a cover material similar to natural soils.
- Conservation of natural soils: as the cover material required for 100 hectares of land amounts to around 1,400,000 m3, our clients save the same volume in natural soil.
- Recultivation: Restoration and protection of environmental assets and habitats, and the creation of new habitats through the integration of hazardous material disposal sites into the landscape.
These technologies are very adaptive:
- In the case of remediation at ore processing and metal refining factories, namely entail disposal sites of zinc and lead or red mud in aluminium production.
- At abandoned mining areas recultivating dump sites, geotechnical securing of slopes to avoid landslides, cover the surface.
- Cleaning an area contaminated by TBT, PAH, PCB and toxic metals.
- Recultivation of ash dumpsites at power plants which result human exposure to dust particles.
- Recultivation and land management in order to fit the recultivated area into the local ecosystem.
Monitoring system operation
In order to measure the environmental impact of recultivation, a complex monitoring system is operated in the area to test the quality of subsurface and surface waters, air, and cover material (immediately after implementation, then throughout its lifetime) and to perform wildlife toxicology tests. In areas remediated by Envirotis Holding LLC, pollutants remain below the limit values specified by competent authorities, pollution levels display downward trends, wildlife dies from natural causes, as the internal organs of dead animals display no accumulation of toxic materials.
Results
Recultivated disposal sites are covered with vegetation that is stable and viable in the long term. Wildlife at the disposal sites continues to thrive: insects, field rodents, birds, and small and large mammals all live in the area. Renewal is particularly evident in that beavers–known to be very sensitive to environmental pollution–have also appeared in some areas in recent years.
In recent decades, a large diversity of flora and fauna has settled in the area where recultivation and integration have taken place.
Envirotis Holding undertakes the recultivation of abandoned red mud or dust-ash disposal sites. Its mission is to integrate reservoirs of this type into the landscape without recourse to state funding using a self-sustaining approach, thus decreasing their pollution of the environment.
Currently, such disposal sites serve three separate waste management and environmental protection functions:
• Hazardous waste disposal site abandoned for several years and awaiting closure: the red mud and flue ash at the site have not been treated.
• Recultivation: aims to separate the waste from its environment and provide for integration with the landscape.
• Waste utilization: typically refers to the production by recultivation of fertile cover material from production waste and by-products.
History of disposal sites
Alumina production and the disposal of red mud and flue-ash from the power plant has caused significant pollution to the ground waters and air in the area. The red or grey dust cloud that has formed above the surface of these abandoned disposal sites has significantly impacted the living standards of the population of the area. Until the 1980s, several unsuccessful attempts were made to mitigate the environmental damage, to cover the disposal sites, and integrate them into the landscape; however, in just a few years, the fertile soil used for recultivation became alkalized by ions migrating from the waste, and tests performed on construction waste and industrial by-products produced similarly negative results.
Land-coverage successes
In 1986 one of the Holding’s predecessor companies began an experiment in an attempt to solve the above problems. As a result, a special cover material was developed that was able to produce the desired results in recultivation and reintegration with the landscape. A recultivated surface on the one hand prevents the infiltration of rain-water into the waste mass, and, on the other, integrates harmonically into the landscape through the inclusion of vegetation. After almost three decades of effort, a disposal site of almost 170 hectares was covered, and a fully dust-free state achieved even before 100% coverage was obtained. Thanks to landscaping, auxiliary work, and the covering of disposal sites, ground water quality parameters are now in a state of continuous improvement. Some pollution components have completely disappeared, while for others, a fortuitous downward trend has been observed.
Cover material
The cover material in question is produced during the recycling process through biological degradation, typically from production waste and by-products. This material has features and components similar to those of the natural soil, and—as proven by decades of experience—is suitable for both planting and the development of wildlife. The materials (mainly sewage sludge) processed during waste recycling together offer the organic nutrients, inorganic components, and structural materials that render it similar to natural soil. This method reproduces the soil formation processes that occur in nature under controlled conditions and in a manner that requires considerably less time.
EU-compliant, three-in-one technology
• Waste recycling: processing of production waste and by-products to produce a cover material similar to natural soils.
• Conservation of natural soils: as the cover material required for 100 hectares of land amounts to around 1,400,000 m3, our clients save the same volume in natural soil.
• Recultivation: Restoration and protection of environmental assets and habitats, and the creation of new habitats through the integration of hazardous material disposal sites into the landscape.
These technologies are very adaptive:
• In the case of remediation at ore processing and metal refining factories, namely entail disposal sites of zinc and lead or red mud in aluminium production.
• At abandoned mining areas recultivating dump sites, geotechnical securing of slopes to avoid landslides, cover the surface.
• Cleaning an area contaminated by TBT, PAH, PCB and toxic metals.
• Recultivation of ash dumpsites at power plants which result human exposure to dust particles.
• Recultivation and land management in order to fit the recultivated area into the local ecosystem.
Monitoring system operation
In order to measure the environmental impact of recultivation, a complex monitoring system is operated in the area to test the quality of subsurface and surface waters, air, and cover material (immediately after implementation, then throughout its lifetime) and to perform wildlife toxicology tests. In areas remediated by Envirotis Holding LLC, pollutants remain below the limit values specified by competent authorities, pollution levels display downward trends, wildlife dies from natural causes, as the internal organs of dead animals display no accumulation of toxic materials.
Results
Recultivated disposal sites are covered with vegetation that is stable and viable in the long term. Wildlife at the disposal sites continues to thrive: insects, field rodents, birds, and small and large mammals all live in the area. Renewal is particularly evident in that beavers–known to be very sensitive to environmental pollution–have also appeared in some areas in recent years.
In recent decades, a large diversity of flora and fauna has settled in the area where recultivation and integration have taken place.