The rapid development of mechanised tunnelling in the last decades has increased the tunnelling community’s focus on the environmental aspects of tunnel construction. The excavation carried out by using EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) machines often requires the use of foaming agents, specific products that are added to the medium intended to be excavated, in order to make the excavation process possible. The produced muck can be considered more than a simple “landfill material” and its re-use is strongly suggested in view of sustainable excavation and circular economy principles. However, the correct management process should be followed. This process should take into account the presence of the used additives in the mucking itself.

This instalment of the Lunchtime lecture series focused on 'EPB tunnelling: environmental aspects and re-use opportunities of the conditioned muck'  in collaboration with ITA-AITES WG15.

The episode featured three lectures and finished with a Q&A with all speakers. 

• The conditioning phase in EPB tunnelling and the issue of muck disposal - Prof. Carmine Todaro
• Environmental aspects of the conditioning phase, chemical profile of foaming agents and the biodegradation process: the Italian approach before muck re-use - Dr. Anna Barra Caracciolo
• Muck: raw material for industrial production; mineralogical and chemical analysis and its use on construction sites - Prof. Dr. Robert Galler
• Discussion and Q&A moderated by Dr. Nikolai Bobylev