Contaminated marine sediments: Waste or resource? An overview of treatment technologies

The continuous stream of sediments dredged, from harbors and waterways, is a considerable environmental issue recognized worldwide. Every year about 200 million of m3 of sediments are dredged only in Europe, over half contaminated and expensive to dispose of. In a vision of sustainability and of circular economy, the proper management of such sediments plays an important role. Therefore, the aim of this study was to critically revise the remediation technologies currently adopted for the suitable reuse, recycling and recovery of contaminated marine sediments (CMS). First of all, the description of the common technologies for the complete removal and/or immobilization of pollutants was realized. Subsequently, potentially technical solutions for marine sediments reuse were discussed. Such re-use or recycling is in line with the European Waste Hierarchy and generates positive environmental impacts. Finally, the research proposes a new approach to the “sediment issue", an ecosustainable management where the contaminated marine sediments are viewed as a useful resource.