Contaminated earth returned to landfill
M● ERSEYLINK has dispelled rumours that a toxic clean-up has been under way at the Mersey Gateway site in Halton this month.
A project spokeswoman said contractors have been returning contaminated earth, which was removed from existing historic landfill at Wigg Island in Runcorn during construction of the bridge, to where it came from.
She said the material does contain raised levels of substances such as cyanide but this is bound into the soil, adding that it had been stored in a secure area while the building works were completed.
The spokeswoman said there was no evidence of smells emanating from the material.
She said the material is being returned to the landfill at Wigg Island.
Residents will know the site as Randle Island, which has been used for the disposal of hazardous material for decades. ●
The spokeswoman said that as the site was set up a long time ago, any material being returned has to be examined to ensure it complies with 2018 regulations.
Any that does not will be diverted elsewhere.
She said: “Two piers had to be constructed through an historic existing landfill.
“The landfill had been placed there prior to current waste regulations coming into force.
“As a result a quantity of material was excavated from the landfill during construction.
“This material was taken and stored in a secure, bunded area in line with regulatory requirements.
“The material is now being re-excavated from the storage area and taken back to the location it had been excavated from on Wigg Island.
“The material is being screened and tested prior to deposition to ensure it complies with the acceptability criteria which have been agreed between Merseylink and the regulators.
“Some of the material, if it does not meet these criteria, may have to be sent to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
“The material does have raised levels of contaminants such as cyanide but this is bound into the soil matrix.
“When it has been replaced into the Wigg Island landfill it will be capped with clean clay material and landscaped.
“We have no evidence of hydrocyanic acid nor of any smells emanating from this operation.”