Permission to use the company's soil for earth works on the Saint-Jacques mining tip was granted by a town-planning permit issued in 2013 and several waivers under Article 13 of the Walloon General Decree (“AGW”) of 14 June 2001. 
The soil used to stabilise the tip's steep slopes and generally reprofile the site must meet strict geotechnical and environmental quality criteria.     

On the geotechnical level, the soil is compacted in thin layers with external slopes that do not exceed 8/4 (26° angle from a horizontal baseline) in order to ensure the stability of the overall structure and erosion resistance. The earth is packed in final position only once its moisture content is compatible with such compacting operations.     

On the environmental level, all micro-pollutant levels must comply with the cut-offs set in the same decree of 14 June 2001 (annex. 2.2). Risk analysis was nevertheless done by an approved soil expert and, to be on the safe side, it was decided to limit the concentrations of certain substances to values below those allowed by the decree in order to ensure full compatibility with the tip's future uses (walking paths and biodiversity).

The above-mentioned concentrations are checked by an approved laboratory before each batch of soil is put in place and afterwards, as well, by yearly drilling for samples and their analysis. The latter is done by an independent expert and is not required by law, for SETSJ is fully committed to engaging in such a sustainable approach with great environmental and societal importance.

 

As a result, the soil added to the Saint-Jacques tip presents no hazard to human health, surface water quality, or groundwater quality (the Houiller aquifer, which, moreover, is not pumped for drinking water).

 

SESTJ sprl monitors the local wildlife annually to make certain that the inventoried plant and animal species are protected and develop without problems.

SESTJ's commitment

SESTJ is commited to:

  • Ensuring that the soil recycled on the Saint-Jacques mining tip is harmless;
  • Conducting state-of-the-art redevelopment of the site;
  • Taking all necessary measures to guarantee that the project's performance carries no human health or environmental risks; and
  • Monitoring the project's ecological and social impacts in line with the best practices in effect.

SESTJ and sustainable development

The Saint-Jacques mining tip redevelopment project is fully in line with sustainable development, as shown by the following:

  • On the environmental level:
    • decrease in the carbon impact, fine particle emissions, and fuel consumption through the use of an outlet very close to the processing facility;
    • elimination of pollution linked to the illegal dumping of trash;
    • protection of species and promotion of biodiversity.
  • On the social/societal level:
    • considerable decrease in long-distance hauling;
    • local job creation;
    • access to an area of greenery within the business park once the landscaping is finished;
    • creation of places for walking and learning.
  • On the economic level:
    • expansion of Roton Environnement Group's activities;
    • setting an example: Yes, an industrial project is compatible with the parallel development of an ecological and social welfare project.