The SiLC Soils and Materials subgroup
Transforming the Future of Excavated Soils and Materials Management
The SiLC Soils and Materials subgroup was founded with a bold vision: to champion the sustainable re-use of excavated soils and materials across the UK. We believe soils and materials are not waste, but valuable resources and that regulatory reform holds the key to unlocking their full potential.
In pursuit of this mission, SiLC and its members initially raise awareness in June 2021, by writing a letter to DEFRA and the Environment Agency highlighting significant concerns over the inconsistency on how former landfill sites were being regulated, restricting the potential to bring these sites back into beneficial use. Recommendations were provided on amendments to the CL:AIRE Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoW CoP) to include the re-use of site won materials from historic landfills or produce new guidance which streamlines the waste recovery and surrender process for the re-use of materials from within these sites.
SiLC followed up the letter in 2022 with a survey to industry to gain greater understanding of wider concerns on the regulation of soils and materials. The survey identified that there was an increasing trend from the Environment Agency for sites to require an environmental permit to manage the re-use of materials, especially in respect to landfills, historic stockpiles and possible mining waste. In addition, there was inconsistency of the advice, with the EA being under resourced and lacking the capacity to support the increase in the need for permits. The overall outcome was that DoW CoP provides a simple, pragmatic cost effective and crucially timely approach to managing the re-use of materials. The outcome of the survey was issued to Defra and the EA alongside a further letter requesting a review of EA guidance. A summary of findings of the survey was also provided to wider industry in the June 2023 AGS magazine AGS – Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists – Findings of SiLC DoWCoP industry survey: regulatory challenges for regeneration of historical landfills and reuse of stockpiles and mineral waste..
Based on this work, the SiLC Soils and Materials subgroup and CIRIA Soil Community of Practice group decided to join forces and convened a landmark joint roundtable event in February 2024 bringing together key UK regulators and stakeholders. This collaborative effort sparked vital conversations around reimagining how we manage and regulate excavated materials, culminating in the creation of three influential green papers [add link].
In 2024, we proudly undertook a professional review of DoWCoP v3 on behalf of CL:AIRE, reaffirming its vital role in enabling the sustainable re-use of excavated soils and materials. Our response underscored the importance of treating these soils and materials as valuable resources, not waste while ensuring that human health and environmental risks are responsibly managed. Crucially, we highlighted how DoWCoP supports the construction industry in meeting its Net Zero ambitions, offering a practical framework that aligns environmental stewardship with industry progress and economic growth.
Our journey is far from over. We remain committed to driving awareness, influencing policy, and staying agile in the face of regulatory change. Led by our Chair, Sarah Bullock, Technical Director at AtkinsRéalis with over 20 years of experience in contaminated land and soils and materials re-use on large infrastructure projects the group is powered by a collective of seasoned professionals from consultancy, remediation, and waste management sectors.
We’re always looking for passionate SiLCs to join us in shaping the future. If you’re ready to make a difference, please reach out to Amy Hart on silc@silc.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you.