Grass may grow in Bánhida instead of dust clouds

Preparations for a major environmental investment have begun in Tatabánya: the Vértesi Erőmű Zrt. open public procurement procedure is seeking a contractor for the complete recultivation of the Bánhida tailings pond. The development concerns a 16.7-hectare, technically protected, hill-shaped landfill site containing approximately 2.6 million cubic metres of slag and fly ash.

The aim of the investment is to stabilise the environment in the area in the long term, reduce dust pollution and improve surface drainage.

Hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of earthworks

The project involves significant earthworks:

• Approximately 583,000 m³ of fly ash will be broken down to form the base surface.,
• approximately 375,000 m³ of material will be reused in embankments,
• Nearly 176,000 tonnes of fly ash are transported to licensed treatment facilities.

During recultivation, a multi-layer cover system will be installed over an area of more than 180,000 square metres. The primary role of the final layer is to reduce rainwater infiltration, stabilise the waste body and minimise dust emissions.

Green surface from sludge

Following technical completion, planting and turfing will take place, which will serve not only an aesthetic but also an ecological function:

• reduces erosion,
• improves soil water management,
• contributes to the improvement of the local microclimate,
• and provide a habitat for pioneer plant species and smaller animal species.

As part of the project, service roads and drainage facilities will also be built to ensure controlled drainage of surface water and long-term safe operation of the area. After completion, a monitoring system will oversee the condition of the layer structure and environmental parameters.

According to current environmental classification, the landfill does not contain hazardous waste, but rather inorganic waste, primarily ash and slag from thermal manufacturing processes.

Three-year implementation period

The works will take place in the administrative area of Tatabánya, and the planned duration of the contract is 36 months, which may be extended if justified. Bids will be evaluated on the basis of the best price-quality ratio, and the contracting authority expects significant recultivation references from bidders.

The investment could represent an important step in the redevelopment of the area's industrial heritage: once the project is complete, a stabilised, green-covered, environmentally safe area will be created, which will reduce environmental risks in the long term and improve the appearance of the city's outskirts.