Invasive plant species cost the UK economy at least £2 billion every year. That is according to a new report from Wildlife and Countryside Link.
The study, released earlier this year, says that dealing with such plant species, including Japanese Knotweed, adds to building construction costs. This leads to increasing flooding and damages crops.
Scientists who carried out the research are lobbying the Government to spend £6 million on measures to tackle the invasive plant species. In doing so, they say it would save £2.7 billion over the next 20 years in removing such plants.
How invasive plant species cost construction
Building companies that discover such invasive species on development land must treat it, which costs tens of thousands of pounds. Such species include Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed.
Traditionally, all soil on development sites that contain Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) plants needs moving. Large buffer zones usually need excavating to dispose of the contaminated earth, and it then needs moving to controlled waste sites.
As well as the physical cost of excavation, construction firms must also absorb the cost of transporting the soil. The result means wider environmental impact, as lorries create extra emissions as they move affected earth to and from the site.
How ATG Group helps reduce costs
Rather than digging out the soil and dumping it to specialist landfill sites, we use an innovative treatment that we have developed. The is all completed on site.
Eraginate® is quicker than ‘dig and dump’ methods, and it also eliminates the need for large landfill cost. It also reduces your carbon footprint as waste material is greatly decreased.
The remaining treated material is re-used on-site as backfill material or used in the garden and landscaped areas in some cases.
Other treatments for INNS, including Japanese Knotweed, include Dig and Bury remedies and stem injection. But both have drawbacks! Dig and bury is restricted to what land is available as well as leaving Japanese Knotweed present on site. Stem injection, meanwhile, can take at least three years to be effective.
If you have discovered INNS on your development site or land, contact us today to find out more about Eraginate®.
