Reuse of materials to reduce climate impact
Stockholm Royal Seaport is one of Europe's largest urban development areas. In partnership with multiple stakeholders and developers the City of Stockholm plans to build at least 12,000 new homes and 35,000 workplaces. Former port and industrial brownfield areas are being transformed into a green and mixed-use part of Stockholm.
To support the city's transition from linear to circular resource use and reduce costs, we work innovatively with the recovery and reuse of excavated materials through efficient mass logistics.
Traditionally, excavated soil and rock materials are transported to distant landfills, resulting in longer transport distances and high costs. For several years, Stockholm Royal Seaport has actively managed materials locally at a Mass Consolidation Centre. This centre can receive and process up to 400,000 tonnes of contaminated excavated materials per year, including materials with contamination levels classified as hazardous waste.
The local Mass Consolidation Centre contributes to the following:
High recovery rate: Approximately 40% of excavated materials and nearly 100% of stone and rock materials are recovered and reused. With a new sorting facility with wet screening, which became operational in autumn 2023, the recovery rate for excavated materials will increase. The materials are reused as fill material in the city's construction projects, as well as for reinforcing quays and creating erosion protection.
Reduced costs: External materials do not need to be purchased, resulting in significant cost savings of 20-50% or SEK 100-250 per tonne, depending on the recovery rate.
Shorter transports: Local management of materials significantly reduces transport requirements compared to sending materials to external facilities.
The Mass Consolidation Centre handles materials not only from Stockholm Royal Seaport, but also from other city projects such as Stockholm's Meatpacking District and Slussen.
An innovative example is the collaboration between the City of Stockholm and Region Stockholm's Extended Metro Administration (FUT). Rock material from the metro expansion is transported by barge from Blasieholmen to the Mass Consolidation Centre. During 2024, nearly 420,000 tonnes of rock material were transported by barge, replacing approximately 32,000 lorry journeys. This has contributed to reduced wear, noise and emissions in the city centre.
"Large quantities of fill and road materials are required for the development of a district the size of Stockholm Royal Seaport. Local, electrified crushing and recycling of excavated materials reduces the number of transports and climate emissions while halving material costs. We also ensure the quality of materials that cannot be reused and are sent to landfill," says Fredrik Bergman, Implementation Manager.
"The development in Stockholm Royal Seaport goes hand in hand with the transition to a fossil-free construction site. Construction machinery already uses biofuel, and the first electric lorry is in operation. There are plans to expand electrification with local charging infrastructure and continue developing processes to increase reuse and reduce emissions," concludes Fredrik Bergman
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Article Published: 11/04/2023 Updated: 21/05/2025