The use of geological information in the strategic planning of waste disposal in Merseyside

The search for new landfill facilities for the metropolitan county of Merseyside in the late 1970s began with the identification of over 1200 sites classified as derelict, despoiled or low-grade agricultural land, or coastal sites capable of reclamation. The first stage of selection eliminated more than 90 per cent of these sites on the grounds of size, proximity to housing etc., using fairly subjective judgements justified by the coarseness of the 'sieve'. A more formalized system was used to assess the remaining 100 sites at the second stage, and among the Criteria used were the geology and hydrogeology of each site, the degree of engineering required to protect ground and surface water resources, and the availability of on-site construction 'materials. These assessments had to be made on the basis of information already available. A certain amount of rudimentary information was available from Geological Survey maps and memoirs, but this had to be supplemented by time-consuming searches through the files of various authorities (and their various departments) for individual borehole records and site investigation summaries. Of the sites assessed, 24 were shortlisted for detailed investigation, as and when the need arises in particular areas. This case illustrates the need for published, strategic geological information to be sufficiently detailed and up to date, to allow comparisons of sites to be made at the desk-study stage of land-use projects, prior to physical investigations of favoured sites. This applies to minerals planning and other schemes as well as waste disposal. For most areas, the necessary information does exist, and so does the technology to make it easily accessible, but improvements are necessary to the legislative/financial framework within which geological information is collected.

Duke Scholars

Author Deverick John Anderson Medicine, Infectious Diseases