Background The presence of contaminated sediment in coastal environments may lead to significant alteration of marine and coastal ecosystems. Since marine disposal is forbidden by national and international regulations, an alternative solution needs to be found to prevent the disposal of dredged sediment as landfill. Furthermore, the identification of proper treatment processes for sediment is required to promote the reuse of materials as a substitute for natural raw materials, thus allowing for reduced consumption of natural resources. Dredged sediment can represent a valuable material in some areas. However, reuse must have an acceptable cost/benefit ratio, which requires finding markets for the recovered materials. This can only be attained if potential end-users are actively involved in the definition of targets and requirements for sediment use and if sediment supply and demand are properly balanced. Objectives The main aim for the COAST-BEST project was to preserve the quality of coastal zones through integrated management of sediment from dredging activities in small harbours. This was intended to lead to the implementation of a network-based system involving nine small harbours located in the Emilia-Romagna Region. The harbour network would carry out all the sediment related activities (i.e. dredging, separation/treatment, reuse, and disposal). After analysing the available options for the final destination of the separated and treated dredged sediment, the project focused on actions to promote the environmentally friendly use of this sediment in an integrated system, involving beach nourishment applications, reconstruction of morphological profiles as well as industrial applications. This approach aimed to help to reduce the final disposal of sediment as landfill, as well as the consumption of natural primary resources. Communication of the network principles to all the interested stakeholders would promote sediment management and stimulate ideas for its use as a substitute for raw materials and for environmental applications. The project would contribute new knowhow concerning Integrated Coastal Zones Management (ICZM) actions. Results An integrated sediment management approach was designed during the COAST-BEST project. They used a network-based system connecting nine small harbours of the Emilia-Romagna Region (Cattolica, Porto Verde, Riccione, Rimini, Bellaria, Cesenatico, Cervia, Porto Garibaldi, Goro). The approach took into consideration the different phases of dredged sediment management, including dredging, separation/treatment, reuse and final disposal. Outcomes from this work included: Collection of basic information related to dredged sediments management. This was done in order to identify possibilities and limits for application, including quantitative and qualitative characterisation of dredged sediments in the area of interest, as well as site-specific constraints; A thorough chemical, physical and toxicological characterisation of the sediments in the area of interest; A pilot plant line for size separation of sediments was installed at the Livorno harbour and tested on four groups of sediments from four different harbours in Emilia Romagna. The plant has a low-cost and flexible layout, which is defined on the basis of the results of lab-scale tests carried out during the initial stages of the project. The plant can be applied to different kinds of contaminated dredged sediments and produce a tailor-made sediment treatment chain; An integrated sediment management system (ISMS) was defined (GIS-based) that brought together results of the above work and linked related activities (management phases, dredging, separation/treatment, beneficial reuse, and final disposal) within a network of nine small harbours; As part of the ISMS development process, technical and engineering studies were conducted on: (i) options for beneficial reuse of dredged sediments and related best practices; (ii) national and regional regulatory framework; (iii) market conditions for sediment reuse and identification of potential end-users. Analysis then led to a list of possible solutions for sediment management and a set of proposals for sediment reuse and treatment. Legal and administrative guidelines for these processes were also produced; Environmentally friendly applications of dredged sediments were identified and assessed (i.e. safe beach nourishment, morphological profile reconstruction and industrial applications). All of this new knowhow was then applied to: Assess the best available sediment use techniques; Evaluate innovative experimental studies on dredged sediment management in the Emilia Romagna region over the last three years; Clarify considerations for sediment reuse on the basis of an ad hoc experimental campaign; Make recommendations for the optimisation of dredged sediment management. A cross-section of relevant stakeholders were involved in exploring concrete opportunities for sediment reuse (informed by the pilot plant findings). Their cooperation led to them forming a Consulting Board of interested parties within the framework of regional ICZM actions. Environmental assessments indicated that the project results could be harnessed to help prevent the landfilling of about 50 000 m3 of sediments. Social benefits included increased awareness, networking, and transparency between key stakeholders (two harbour authorities, six Regional and Provincial authorities, around 100 companies, and approximately one million citizens.) Economic outcomes from the project’s new sediment management toolkit included a cost-effective technique for integrated management of dredging activities in small harbours; promotion of a local market for dredged material, and the creation of improved linkage between sediments supply by dredging operators and demand by end-users. These will result in savings of about €60-100 per tonne of sediment, which is the anticipated cost for landfill disposal. Such positive outcomes are now being discussed with the Regione Emilia Romagna other regional authorities in order to help ensure a useful and sustainable legacy from the LIFE project’s conclusions. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).