Fine Soil-like material (FSLM) is the largest component obtained from landfill mining. FSLM typically has little to no economic value.
Key points
- Biomining of legacy waste dumpsites generates waste fractions such as segregated combustible materials (SCF) consisting of plastics, textiles, leather, wood, among others; construction and demolition waste (C&D waste); and FSLM, typically comprising particles smaller than 6 mm, once the larger waste pieces have been removed.
- The scientific application of FSLM ranges from road construction to land reclamation and as a filler material for low-lying areas.
- As specified in the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines for the disposal of legacy waste (2019), fine materials in the size range of 4-6 millimetres are referred to as ‘bio-earth’ or ‘good earth’ material, which can be utilised by farmers as a soil enricher, provided they comply with the Fertilizer Control Order standards.
- The fine soil-like material can also be used as a filler material for low-lying areas.
- In many cities In India, FSLM recovered from legacy waste dumpsite remediation is used as a filler material for low-lying areas, without testing it for the presence of toxic metals and organic contaminants posing long-term environmental hazards.
