Give back to nature what was borrowed (Reciclajes Camacho, Spain)

Challenge the practice is addressing: Improving the environment by minimising the ecological footprint and contributing to less waste. Rehabilitation of a degraded and flooded land occupied by a waste treatment plant that was previously used for aggregate extraction.

Concrete practice to achieve the expected goal: For rehabilitation, previously recycled is to be used. The first step was to receive and recover materials from various engineering and road construction works at the waste treatment plant, i.e. substances or items that are generated on a construction or demolition site which meet the definition of waste. To guarantee the quality of the artificial aggregates used, the procedure involved inspections of the delivered material both at the receiving scales and at the unloading point. Suitable materials are construction and demolition waste from concrete and mixed cleans considered inert; polluted material and materials contaminated with asphalt residues cannot be used. Before the material was fed into the plant for treatment, it was cleaned of debris such as plastics or iron, classified and selected. In addition, water control measures had to be implemented as the area was flooded, which meant the exclusive use of inert and clean material.

Expected impact/goal of the practice: Aim is to minimise negative impacts of an abandoned quarrying site, as well as to achieve significant geomorphological and landscape improvements to the surrounding area using materials similar to those of the site.

Who is the target user group of the practice/intervention or implementing the practice/intervention? This practice is for companies in the extractive industry.