Clean Earth recycles 450,000 tons of contaminated soil at Department of Defense site

Harsco Corp., Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, announced on Feb. 16 that its Clean Earth Mobile Soil Services division has treated and beneficially reused nearly 450,000 tons of contaminated soil for a military contractor in northwest Florida using mobile thermal remediation technology. Clean Earth’s mobile thermal treatment solution for contaminated soil used at this U.S  Department of Defense site exceeded the remediation goals for the project, attaining a 100 percent success rate for all soils treated and eliminating an estimated 22,500 truckloads of soil contaminated with chlorinated organic compounds from entering landfills.

Clean Earth’s Mobile Soil Services offers thermal desorption technology that treats and processes hazardous, non-hazardous and high-moisture contaminated media, including pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hydrocarbons, chlorine compounds and more. Mobile capabilities enable thermal desorption treatment of contaminated soil to be performed at the project site, avoiding the costs associated with traditional waste transportation and disposal methods, Harsco says. 

Highlights of the project include:

• Nearly 450,000 tons of soil diverted from landfills.
• Eliminated the mining and import of 450,000 tons of backfill.
• Prevented the need for 22,500 truckloads of imported material to replace the contaminated soil and backfill the excavation.
• Exceeded the soil cleanup objectives set forth by the Florida Department of Environmental Protections (DEP), allowing for the soil reuse in residential areas. 

“Clean Earth is leading the environmental industry by providing sustainable and cost-effective treatment of contaminated soil while preserving natural resources,” David Stanton, president of Clean Earth, says. “Our versatile mobile remediation services enable customers to benefit from an on-site solution for contaminated soil, ultimately helping to minimize environmental impact and maximize value. With over 30 years of experience, we are proud of our continuous investment in technology to improve the environment and promote a sustainable future.”

According to the company, on-site thermal desorption allows Clean Earth to further support a client’s project by expanding the range of non-hazardous and hazardous waste that can be treated, reducing site liability, and minimizing or eliminating future site monitoring requirements. The Clean Earth team works alongside regulators, consultants, third-party laboratories and vendors to aid in the selection of cost-effective solutions to accomplish each customer’s goals, ranging from small private projects to large Superfund sites.