PFAS

PFAS is a collective name for a group of toxic substances currently found in soil: in soil, in dredged sludge and in surface water. Substances that have been introduced into the soil by humans and are difficult to degrade. One feature is that they are oil and water repellent. They were used in rainwear, paint, non-stick coatings and pizza boxes, among others. It was even in firefighting foam. By now, many PFAS substances have been banned.

PFAS now occurs – diffusely distributed – throughout the country, often in concentrations above the established detection limit. Many works involving earth moving and dredging are delayed as a result. THK now aims to eliminate that stagnation wherever possible. It also wants to prevent the risks to health, the environment and the spreading of this soil and dredged material.

Even though the THK is now applicable, the market needs time to translate “the theory” into practice. How do we give substance to the THK? Is land acceptance at risk? Perhaps soil that has not been assessed for PFAS should be reassessed? The environmental specialists at Van Schie are happy to think with you about the most appropriate solution for your situation.

The first PFAS soil remediation in the Netherlands

Since last summer, PFAS has been a major issue for many earth-moving contractors. The entire chain had to deal with a new substance that is virtually forbidden to be present in the soil. The new thing was not so much the standard that became known, but mainly that as of July 8 we were required to measure soil for PFAS concentration. From then on, it slowly became known that a lot of soil was contaminated with PFAS, with the result that the earth-moving chain mostly came to a standstill.

Since early 2017, we at Van Schie had already picked up the first signals about PFAS and immediately took up the subject. From that pilot function, we conducted research and gathered knowledge with a great result: in late 2017, the first soil remediation in the Netherlands, with PFAS as a contaminant, was adopted! From the former Ajax Chubb Fire site in Amsterdam, some 60,000 tons of highly contaminated soil was excavated and transported to approved processors to make the beautiful site on the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal suitable for habitation. What was certainly special was that in addition to the soil, we also successfully treated 2,500 m3 of PFAS-contaminated groundwater on site. Another novelty in the Netherlands!

For Van Schie, it was a special project. Not because of digging and hauling, we can do that like the best of them. What was new was that the preparation of the project lasted well beyond the execution. Despite the large amounts of soil, we needed only 4 months for implementation. This was in sharp contrast to the preparation of almost a year! That didn’t just have to do with PFAS. From a safety risk standpoint, we wanted to avoid having our workers stand at the crane during the work. Therefore, all soil survey data were translated into a 3D model and then loaded into our crawler cranes. As a result, the operator knew on his screen exactly where, what and how much had to be excavated.

We have learned that knowledge and execution go hand in hand to deliver a good result for the client. Let that be exactly what we love to do!!!