We have been approached by the WasteMINZ Contaminated Land Sector Group with a proposal to set up a joint working group. Both societies have independently identified that we need to minimise the disposal of soil and similar engineering materials to landfill to improve the sustainability of our practice areas, and that we would achieve this best by working together.
We see a benefit to documenting a common response to the issue of waste soil, which often falls between the gaps of geotechnical engineering and environmental risk management. This lack of clear ownership can result in a lowest common denominator approach to waste creation and disposal.
We propose a working group to produce a joint practice note articulating:
- The drivers for soil movement
- The environmental problems caused by soil disposal
- the financial costs associated with soil disposal
- alternatives to soil disposal
- potential benefits to consultants, clients and the community of sustainable soil management
The intention is that the practice note will be distributed to NZGS and WasteMINZ members to help guide their work.
If you would like to be involved in this exciting and very topical project, please email secretary@nzgs.org with a brief explanation of why you want to be involved, what skills or experience you would bring, and a copy of your CV. We will need a mixture of experienced and more junior volunteers to take on different responsibilities on the working group.
You’ll get to be involved in preparing industry best-practice guidance, learn from cross-disciplinary experts, share your knowledge, and put your name on a guideline that will be used across the sector.
Expressions of interest close on 11 November 2022.