Q&A with Sam Mueller, Managing Director of West Soil and Water
Sam, I understand you’ve worked in the environmental consulting sector for over 15 years. What was the reason you went into this area of work?
My first exposure to contamination-related consulting was during my graduate program, where I worked under some senior scientists in this space. The work combined elements that spoke to me – technical problem solving, planning, science, travel to new areas across Australia, finding solutions to complex problems and developing professional relationships. Being able to see a direct correlation between the work we do and improvements to the environment is fantastic.
My enjoyment of these aspects of my work has only grown over time. For example, when I encounter a project with a serious issue, I thrive in developing solutions that allow the site’s intended use and development to continue. Contamination can be distressing for many clients due to its potential long-term health, environmental and financial implications. I find great satisfaction in discovering practical solutions to these problems and witnessing a site that poses risks to the environment, or its users undergo significant positive changes.
Sam, can you share your views on Soil re-use?
At West Soil and Water, we recognise soil as a limited resource. Regardless of the land use, the soil is crucial to the integrity of a site through our ability to safely interact with it, grow things in it, build on it and move it to suit the sites outcomes. In our work, we promote the responsible management and re-use of soil where it is safe to do so.
Treating or recycling soil helps reduce the need for new material extraction, diverts waste from landfills, and minimises the environmental or human health impacts of transporting or disposing of contaminated soil. Properly tested and treated soil can be revitalised and repurposed for a range of uses. This approach helps preserve the integrity of the land and supports a more sustainable, circular economy.
From a practical perspective – on-site treatment often results in significant cost savings, and fewer logistical barriers around transport and disposal. It is understandable that removal of affected soils appears to be the ‘easiest’ option, and may be the only option at times, but where the opportunity exists, re-use should be viewed as the most sustainable option.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced with soil re-use in the work you do at West Soil and Water?
One key challenge is ensuring that re-used soil meets the necessary quality standards for its intended application. To meet these standards, rigorous testing, and a comprehensive risk assessment of the site itself, its users, and the environment should be implemented.
Safety for future users of the site, and maintaining environmental integrity always comes first at West Soil & Water, and sadly not all soil is able to be remediated to meet regulatory standards. We are very thorough and ensure any soil identified as at risk undergoes testing and, if contaminated, we’ll explore the possible remediation options with our clients to avoid unnecessary dumping to landfill.
Our work primarily takes place in Western Australia, which is vast and includes many remote areas. Transporting large volumes of soil from these locations presents challenges due to the weight and bulk, making disposal expensive. In comparison, on-site remediation also faces similar constraints, especially when it comes to traveling to remote sites for sampling requirements, particularly if repeat testing is needed. The challenge lies in weighing the costs and time involved to find a balanced solution. Timing is another barrier; laboratory analysis of soil can take time, and safe onsite storage of materials, along with the need for re-testing, can pose challenges. We work diligently to minimise delays and ensure that other elements of the project progress quickly, aiming for the fastest overall turnaround.
Can you share any examples of when you have successfully re-used soil?
We recently assisted on an asbestos-contaminated site in WA, with around 140m3 of affected soil that was stockpiled – this soil was excavated for the installation of below-ground infrastructure and was to be reinstated. With the noted asbestos contamination, we tested and determined there was nothing friable – making mechanical screening a viable option. With that completed and re-testing of soils done, the resulting pile for disposal was 25m3 – saving tens of thousands of dollars for our client in disposal fees and transport.
The remaining 165 m3 was able to be safely re-used on-site for its original purpose after rigorous re-testing and risk assessment. And to think the first thought was to dispose of all 140m3 straight to landfill! With adequate space to safely store the material before treatment and re-use, the difference of a couple of days resulted in the ability to re-use the site soils, not have to source new material from elsewhere, not needing to dispose of exceed material to landfill, and a significant cost saving as well.
With some other known areas of potential contamination at this particular site, this will be the adopted process moving forward.
Finally, can you share one key message with our readers to close off our discussion today
Every site is different, and the management of contamination is not one-size-fits-all. However, where possible, soil re-use should be viewed as a viable option, not just for cost-saving benefits, but for our responsibility to view soil as a finite resource and to lower the impact of disposing and re-sourcing new materials – while upholding values of responsibility and environmental integrity.
About Sam Mueller
Sam Mueller is the Managing Director of West Soil & Water, an environmental consulting firm in Western Australia specialising in contaminated sites and soil and water testing. With over 15 years in the industry, Sam has worked across an array of sectors and sites. His work has focused on site investigations, management planning, soil and water sampling and analysis and acid sulfate soils.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Marine Science from Murdoch University.