Japanese Knotweed treatment/removal Ballymun.

Japanese Knotweed

Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) are delighted to work in conjunction with Japanese Knotweed Ireland (JKI) and the main contractor for the project, Purcell Construction (PC), to dispose of soils containing Japanese Knotweed (JW) from the North City Operations Depot (NCOD).

Dublin City Council (DCC) have selected a new site directly opposite IKEA in Ballymun as the location for their new depot. The development is 5.03 hectares in size and will include several new workshops for metal work, painting, electrical, carpentry and fleet workshops as well as a signage and fleet branding unit as well as a Civic Amenity centre. 

The existing site comprised of a brownfield site, which had several areas of made ground. Japanese knotweed was identified onsite in three separate areas. Specialist contractors JKI was approached by Purcell Construction to suggest options to treat, dispose or contain the JW.  Initial treatment was with an Herbicide, Foliar, to prevent the further spread of the JW. 

In the first area, fencing was erected, boot wash and signage to warn of the JK soils (Picture 1) were put in place.  Then the extent of the JW was established and a liner placed beside the infected area.  The infected soils were then excavated and placed on a plastic liner (Picture 2) awaiting disposal to IMS.

Picture 1:  JKW contaminated area cordoned off.

Picture 2:  Liner used to store JKW contaminated soils.

The second infected area was in the vicinity of an ESB substation.  The excavated infected soils adjacent to the substation were loaded into sealed trucks for disposal at IMS.  It was decided to install geosynthetic root barrier along the concrete plinth and thereby providing separation between the depot land and the substation (Picture 3).  Lapping tape was used to secure the root barrier to the concrete plinth and sand was used to line the back and front of the barrier to prevent puncture.

Picture 3:  Geosynthetic root barrier to prevent spread of JKW from under substation plinth.

The final area was excavated and stockpiled on plastic sheeting.  This stockpile needed sampling to ensure it met IMSs Waste Acceptance Criteria.  Once results came back as acceptable to IMS the JW contaminated soils were loaded into sealed trucks for disposal (Picture 4).

Picture 4:  Sealed truck being loaded with JKW contaminated soils for disposal at IMS.

The NCOD project involved all manner of JW treatment from Herbicides to excavation and offsite burial at IMS and installation of geosynthetic root barrier.  IMS have placed the JW soils from this project into one of our specially lined cells at our facility in Naul.  It was great to work alongside JWI on this project and we at IMS look forward to many more projects to come. 

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