Technosol and Anthrosol
The World Reference Base for Soil Resources categorizes soil that is heavily transformed and shaped by human activities as Anthrosol. In contrast to natural soil that can be found for example in forests and grasslands, Anthrosol is altered through human intervention such as irrigation, cultivation or adding of organic materials or household waste.
The international classification classifies Technosols as soils with technic origin, produced entirely by humans. These soils are created with human-made materials such as different kind of wastes as for example landfills, sludge, cinders, mine spoils, ashes, compost or demolition waste.
Technosols can have similar properties as natural soils. The reason to create them might be to not to waste the valuable natural soils or because other soils are missing as it is often the case in urban areas. Technosols can also be produced with very specific properties used for purposes in urban or industrial environments. Just as other soils they become quickly habitats for worms, insects and microorganisms as long as there is sufficient air and water supply.
Source: http://www.fao.org/tempref/docrep/fao/009/a0510e/a0510e00.pdf
Interviews: Pascal Boivin