News

DEC Flanders: Remediation Carcoke Zeebrugge

In September 2006, following a public procurement process, OVAM (the Flemish public authority for wastes and contaminations) awarded DEC three of the four phases of the remediation contract of the Carcoke site in Zeebrgge, Belgium. The works started recently. A short overview of the remediation works is provided below.

Removal of refractory bricks

On the site, approx. 15,000 tonnes of bricks, a mixture of refractory bricks (the heat resistant bricks from the former blast-furnaces in the cokes factory) and rubble. By seperating both types, the refractory bricks and the rubble can be recycled and reused.

Removal of soil and sediment contaminated with cyanide

In the small stream that runs through the site, soil and sediment containing cyanide was found. DEC was awarded the works for dredging and dewatering of the sediment, the purification of the process water and the treatment of the dewatered sediment.

Excavation of contaminated soil

On the site, a benzene recycling installation and scrubbers were encountered. Alongside, soil contaminated with cyanide was stored. Many zones on the site contained seriously contaminated soil.

In these zones, excavation works were required up to 1.5 meter below ground level. The (contaminated) groundwater is found on average 0.5 meter below ground level, so a groundwater treatment plan is required.

August 2007