Exchanging reusable raw materials: it’s possible!
Reusable raw materials are the cornerstone of circular working. To take this a step further, InnovA58 launched a living lab for a resource bank during the widening of the A58 motorway.
The knowledge gained here is being further developed both in other areas and within the current InnovA58 project, explains Simone Houtman. As the project leader for socially responsible procurement, she was involved from the start. But how does it work?
Material depots
From the early planning phase of the A58 widening, there was interest in setting up depots along the motorway for reusable materials. ‘Our goal was to temporarily store excavated soil for the widening project. It was quite unique to look beyond the boundaries of our own study and collaborate with other government bodies to identify potential depots,’ explains Simone Houtman.
The search led to a small-scale resource bank operated by the municipality of Tilburg. Materials released from municipal projects were exchanged locally. She elaborates, ‘The municipality tracked incoming and outgoing soil and other valuable materials daily. Projects were linked to each other in a simple but very effective and innovative way.’
‘Establish an innovation budget at the start of every project, dedicated solely to innovation. This allowed us to experiment within InnovA58. Sometimes, things need to start small.’
Buyergroup for soil resources
The knowledge gained at InnovA58 regarding temporary material storage proved valuable. ‘It inspired Rijkswaterstaat to roll out this approach further in collaboration with other government bodies,’ says Simone Houtman.
Today, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rijkswaterstaat, provinces, and water boards work together in the “Buyergroup for Soil Resources” to share knowledge and experiences. ‘We are conducting research at multiple locations into the high-value, regional reuse of soil,’ Simone Houtman adds.
Opportunities for collaboration
She takes pride in the collaborations that have emerged between different government bodies.
‘It’s incredibly convenient to exchange soil or other materials locally between different entities, especially when they’re close to the location where you’re working or need the materials. It creates opportunities for collaboration. In my experience, when two parties want to find a new purpose for their materials nearby, it always works out. It’s the people who make the difference.’
Proven benefits of success
According to Simone Houtman, circular working often feels like pioneering, but its benefits prove its value.
‘There’s a growing awareness that we don’t want to discard materials from the construction, road, and hydraulic engineering sector. When you need resources, you first look for residual materials from previous projects. If that doesn’t work, only then do you consider sourcing new materials.’