Sydney soil project a finalist for global innovation award
A Sydney facility set to save up to 80,000 tonnes of contaminated soil from ending up as landfill each year has been named as a finalist in the globally recognised Edison Awards.
The Caltex Soil Remediation Facility (CalSoil), designed and built by Australian fuel supplier Caltex, treats soil that is contaminated by crude-oil based products such as petrol and diesel so it can be appropriately reused.
The environmentally-friendly and sustainable technique involves breaking down contaminants by adjusting air flow and adding nutrients to stimulate ‘aerobic microbial activity’ in the soil.
After a successful two-year pilot, the facility was last month approved to operate permanently and expand its capacity to manage up to 80,000 tonnes of soil each year.
The facility, an Australian first for the treatment and appropriate re-use of hydrocarbon impacted soils, is now a finalist in the Energy & Sustainability – Re-Use & Reclamation category of the global awards program, named after revolutionary inventor Thomas Edison.
Almost 20 countries are represented among the finalists across all categories. Winners will be announced in New York tomorrow night (21 April).
Caltex National Environment Manager and project innovator Colin Roberts said the facility allowed the natural biodegradation process to be accelerated while also reducing the environmental impact.
“In some ways it is a little bit like a compost heap in the sense that, with the right conditions, we can allow the soil to break down naturally and sustainably,” Mr Roberts said.
“All emissions generated during the remediation are captured by our filter system to ensure there are no odours while the soil is being treated.
“Once treatment is complete, the soil is tested before being reused in appropriate situations, such as for use as engineering fill – this ensures a second life for the soil.”
The availability of the facility also negates the requirement for on-site remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted soils across NSW, a process which can create odour and vapour issues for local residents and businesses.
Caltex Australia
With a commitment to Australia tracing back to 1900, Caltex has grown to become the nation’s outright leader in transport fuel. Caltex supplies one-third of all Australia’s transport fuels and is unique in this market for being the only major brand listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Through its comprehensive supply chain, Caltex has forged its reputation for providing safe and reliable supply of high-quality fuels to a diverse number of customer segments, including retail, mining, agriculture, aviation, transport, small-to-medium enterprises, marine, automotive and government. Caltex is also one of Australia’s largest convenience retailers and franchisors, with over 85% of its stores operated by franchisees.
