Virgin Excavated Natural Material

Virgin Excavated Natural Material is defined in the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 as “natural material (such as clay, gravel, sand, soil or rock fines): (a) that has been excavated or quarried from areas that are not contaminated with manufactured chemicals, or with process residues, as a result of industrial, commercial, mining or agricultural activities, and (b) that does not contain sulfidic ores or soils, or any other waste; and includes excavated natural material that meets the criteria for virgin excavated natural material as may be approved from time to time by a notice published in the NSW Government Gazette.” By definition, VENM cannot be ‘made’ from processed soils. Excavated material that has been stored or processed in any way cannot be classified as VENM. From a contamination perspective, VENM is suitable for use on all properties, subject to approvals and consents from the certifying authorities. If disposed of at a licensed landfill or waste processing facility, VENM has been pre-classified as General Solid Waste (non-putrescible).