Japanese Knotweed Removal

By Author: Mr Simon
Total Articles: 6
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Herbicidal treatment, including Japanese knotweed stem injection, is sometimes not convenient in terms of timescale and for developers the fact that the ground in which it resided following treatment remains classed as controlled waste if removed from site. Japanese Knotweed Ltd offers a full range of Japanese knotweed eradication options by excavation, which is sometimes the only method suitable to remove this invasive non-native plant.

The Japanese knotweed removal industry is in effect part of the larger ground remediation industry which is constantly striving for more sustainable methods of remediation. It is therefore important that Japanese knotweed excavation and off-site disposal (commonly known as ‘dig and dump’) be regarded as a last resort and only utilised when more sustainable on-site treatment/disposal solutions following excavation (such as burial or relocation) are considered unfeasible.

The ‘dig and dump’ Japanese knotweed removal methodology is though commonly deployed on development site in particular, where there simply is no other feasible means of knotweed eradication. It is therefore ...
... important to minimise the environmental impact of ‘dig and dump’ operations by adhering to the 2006 Environment Agency Knotweed Code of Practice (“Managing Japanese knotweed on development sites”), which puts the emphasis firmly on reducing quantities of waste produced when excavating Japanese knotweed. The 2006 EA Code of Practice is in-line with Japanese Knotweed manchester Ltd’s standard operating procedures where we always ensure only knotweed material – and not clean soil – is excavated. Quantities can be further reduced through the process of screening, if required (but it is important to note that the screened soil that is not removed from site remain classed as knotweed contaminated and monitored and/or remediated on-site accordingly).

The key to our success – and the foundation of the 2006 EA Code of Practice – is dispelling the dependence on the ‘7 x 3’ rule (excavating 7m wide by 3m deep) that some contractors still adhere to. The 2006 EA Code of Practice states that this can be achieved by contracting a specialist knotweed contractor (such as Japanese Knotweed Ltd) to supervise the excavation process. This reduction policy has resulted in considerable financial savings for our clients, as well as relieving some of the environmental impact knotweed excavations inevitably cause. Reducing quantities reduces the number of lorries required on site and, where off-site disposal is involved, alleviates some of the pressure on the limited landfill resources in the UK by reducing the volume of material that needs to be buried at the landfill facility. All our excavation operations are backed by full warranties and guarantees of removal.

Article by Benjamin R. Lindley BSc (Hons) of Japanese Knotweed Ltd.

For more information on removing Japanese knotweed, Japanese knotweed disposal and Japanese knotweed eradication please visit japaneseknotweed.co.uk.

The author of this article is closely associated with the organization and is an experienced writer with expertise in writing about Japanese knotweed eradication.