Unsuitable to suitable: a change in the reclamation design paradigm

The availability of suitable sand has become a limiting factor in the development of many ambitious reclamation projects, making the reuse of existing, less suitable materials a critical solution. This subject has been given broader international attention in the past years driven by the shortage of sand resources and by the desire for a more circular society where waste does not exist. So far, only a few examples exist of islands that have been constructed with fine silty or even clayey sediment. In this context, the reclamation with sediments must evolve from an exceptional case requiring special considerations, to a common practice. To favour this practice, an integrated framework is needed where the concepts of suitable and unsuitable are redefined.