article · Sustainability
Rapid construction growth has heightened the risk of depleting natural resources, prompting interest in waste recycling to support sustainable development. Dredged sediment from harbours offers a potential alternative to conventional construction resources, yet studies rarely examine developing nations or evaluate economic viability alongside technical performance. Focusing on the port of Safi in Morocco, this investigation evaluated dredged sediment using laboratory tests tailored to resources available in developing countries, alongside a cost-benefit analysis. The findings reveal that the dredged sediment is sand that can be readily repurposed as a construction aggregate, notably as a direct replacement for standard sand in concrete production. Although the material requires washing and dehydration prior to use, the financial assessment confirms that the recycling process is profitable, demonstrating that beneficial sediment reuse is both technically and economically viable.
Construction demands are depleting natural sand and threatening marine and coastal ecosystems. Repurposing dredged harbour waste offers a double benefit by clearing shipping channels and providing alternative raw materials. Proving that recycled sediment works technically and makes financial sense provides a practical pathway for developing nations to reduce raw material extraction and manage waste responsibly.
This research provides applied and tested evidence for port authorities, waste processors, and concrete manufacturers seeking low-cost sand replacements. The required washing and dehydrating processing is technically feasible with accessible equipment, and cost-benefit analysis confirms its profitability. Given the successful testing of specific local sediment and verified economic returns, the concept appears close to commercial piloting for local infrastructure and concrete production works.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
An unprecedented rate of construction has profoundly increased the risk of scarcity of natural resources and threatened ecosystem sustainability. To establish an effective sustainable development policy, it is imperative to promote the use of responsible production channels, including waste recycling. Reuse of harbor dredged sediment is commonly investigated as a valuable alternative to non-renewable natural resources needed for construction. Sediment characterization is decisive in the valorization process, aiming to identify potential recycling paths. Existing research efforts, however, have rarely investigated case studies in developing countries. Moreover, they have tended to focus on the technical aspects, ignoring economic feasibility, which carries important implications. This paper fills this gap first by meticulously selecting laboratory tests for characterization within the means available in developing countries and second by conducting a cost-benefit analysis. The port of Safi, Morocco, was chosen for the implementation of the adopted approach. Results showed that dredged sediment is a sand readily reusable as a construction aggregate. Several applications are possible, the most interesting one being concrete works, as a substitute for conventional sand. While treatment by washing and dehydrating proved necessary, cost-benefit analysis confirmed the profitability of recycling. Hence, beneficial reuse of dredged sediment as construction material is technically and economically feasible.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.3390/su15031834
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
