The project is an initiative from two students studying the final year of the Energy and Environment program at Linnaeus University in Växjö.
Samples have been taken from sand from the streets in Växjö.
The analyzes show slightly elevated levels of heavy metals, but not at all as much as expected.
- The metals that we have analyzed in the sand are nickel, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium and cobalt.
All samples show elevated values but the levels are very low, says Sofie Winkler and Mia Turstam.
Hear the students talk about their work in the clip
Classified as waste
This sand must be taken care of today and must not be spread out on the streets next winter but must be placed on the landfill as it is classified as waste according to the Environmental Code.
Ola Sjösten from Växjö municipality is responsible for the business.
- This work that the students have done has changed our view of how we should handle garbage sand in the future.
We have started to look at how we can reuse the waste sand, the pollution is not as high as we first thought but we must first take more samples so that we are sure of the contents.
Circular thinking
Some suggestions from the students on how the sand could be used are for asphalt production and as anti-slip on the streets. So a circular thinking.