CityLoops partners Hogeschool Saxion and the Municipality of Apeldoorn joined forces to analyse the material flows at Apeldoorn’s sand and soil depot, aiming to gain a better understanding of how a circular construction industry can benefit from the experiences with facilitating a local soil and sand depot. Bram Entrop, associate professor in Sustainable Environment at Saxion, presented the ensuing research paper at the international Crossing Boundaries conference.

Soil and sand depots are places where soil and sand are collected, processed, inspected, labelled and displayed. Analysing the material flows at these sand depots can lead to a better understanding of how they help municipalities to reuse soil and sand and how they can contribute to the closing of material loops. Apeldoorn has positive experiences with reusing soil and sand through its depot. Entrop’s research analysed the processes involved at Apeldoorn’s depot and collected data on the quality and quantity of the materials handled at the depot.

The paper concludes that the depot has a lot of value for the municiaplity of Apeldoorn as it is able to operate as “a node in the logistic system of the soil and sand market where supply and demand can converge.” However, the research also notes that a circular construction industry will demand a new kind of depot in a new kind of logistic system, one that is “supported by automated sensors and a proper digital infrastructure linked to databases.”

The full research paper can be downloaded here. Entrop’s presentation at the Crossing Boundaries conference can be viewed here.