A soil categorisation assessment may be required where excess soil is to be transported from a site for either reuse at another site or disposal to a landfill.

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Prior to excavation works, an environmental consultant should be contacted to evaluate the requirement for the assessment based on the potential contamination status of the site following review of available site information, particularly historical site usage. Residential properties located within broader residential areas would have lower contamination potential than industrial properties or residential properties with industrial pasts.

In Victoria, soil categorisation assessments are undertaken in accordance with requirements of the Victorian Environment Protection Regulations 2021, with guideline values provided in EPA Victoria (2021) Publication 1828.2 Waste Disposal Categories - Characteristics and Thresholds.

In accordance with the above publications, soils may be categorised as:

• Non-contaminated (Fill Material); or

• Contaminated (Priority Waste) with contaminated soils classified dependant on the nature and degree of chemical composition (from least contaminated) as:

  • Category D – Contaminated Soil;

  • Category C – Contaminated Soil;

  • Category B – Contaminated Soil; or

  • Category A – Contaminated Soil.​

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Restrictions exist for the reuse of soils categorised as Category A, B, C or D. Category A Contaminated Soil must be remediated prior to disposal to a licensed landfill. Remediation may be undertaken onsite (if time and space are available) or transported to a treatment facility prior to disposal to a landfill.

While there are no specific offsite transport or disposal requirements for Fill Material, reuse or disposal of such soil must not give rise to any aesthetic, environmental or health impacts.