A Review of Solidification/Stabilisation Technology and its Industrial Application in the UK

The Environment Agency guidance on stabilisation/solidification (s/s) technology has recently been published. This document has been prepared for use by consultants, contractors and regulators involved in the remediation of contaminated land and the treatment of waste. The primary role of s/s is to immobilise contaminants both chemically and physically, by the addition of a binder and thereby break the source-pathway-receptor linkage and reduce the risk associated with the contaminated material. In addition to immobilising the contaminants, the use of cementitious binders during the treatment, will also enhance the engineering properties of the material. S/s treatment also has significant potential to address the changing requirements for waste disposed of to landfill, following the introduction of the EU Landfill Directive. The development of best-practice guidance for s/s technology will assist in the development of an indigenous s/s industry for managing contaminated land and pre-treating hazardous wastes prior to landfill disposal.