Japanese Knotweed Removal
Options Duty of Care
Japanese knotweed can be treated soil and waste containing knotweed is
in-situ with herbicide or dug out classed as “Controlled Waste”.
(excavated). Choosing and designing
the correct remedial method requires
understanding of the plant as well as
consideration for the current and future
planned use of the ground it occupies.
Herbicide Treatment
This option controls knotweed
growth but may not eradicate or
remove the plants’ underground
rhizome. It and is ideal for:
• Public Open Spaces (Parks)
• Residential property owners
• Where there is no proposed
change of land use
Excavation
Excavation is recommended
where long-term herbicide
treatment is not desirable or
if the affected area is to be
disturbed, e.g.:
• Development/Construction
• Turfing
• Paving/Driveway
• House extension
• Outbuilding (shed, garage,
greenhouse)
Japanese knotweed plant material or
The Environmental Protection
(Duty of Care) Regulations 1991
incorporates a responsibility on
anyone who produces, imports,
carries, keeps, treats or disposes
of any controlled waste (such as
Japanese knotweed) to ensure it is
only ever transferred by someone who
is authorised to carry it, to someone
who is authorised to receive it, such as
a licenced landfill facility.
Action Plan – What to do and
not to do
If you suspect you’ve found knotweed
on a property, don’t…
Where possible allow works
which can disturb the knotweed
(i.e. development works) to
commence without surveying a
site for knotweed and drawing up a
Knotweed Management Plan (KMP)
if found to be present.
Allow knotweed material to
intentionally or unintentionally
leave your site in a manner that
will contravene the Environmental
Protection Act and the
Environmental Protection (Duty
of Care) Regulations. If Japanese
knotweed material is to leave site,
Japanese Knotweed Ltd provide 10-
year Knotweed Management Plans
(herbicide treatment) which include
a regime of treatment proven to be
effective at controlling the growth of
knotweed. Typically, within 3 years
the herbicide has damaged the plant
enough to stop it producing new above
ground stem growth.
Excavation works undertaken by
Japanese Knotweed Ltd provide
instant eradication of Japanese
knotweed and can be completed
within a number of days depending
on the amount of knotweed to be
extracted. The resulting knotweed
waste is either buried or relocated on
site, or removed from site for disposal
at landfill.
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Landscape & Urban Design Issue 38 2019
it must do so via a registered waste
carrier and must be disposed of by
prior arrangement at a specially
licensed landfill facility able to
accept and dispose of Japanese
Add Japanese knotweed to compost,
as this can lead to knotweed
growing in your compost heap.
Burn Japanese knotweed as a
sole means of treatment as large
rhizome and crowns can survive
burning.
Ensure that you do….
Isolate the Japanese knotweed
by means of ‘7m rhizome spread
zone’ exclusion fence prior to the
commencement of development
works to prevent any disturbance
of the plant by workers, vehicles or
members of the public.
Draw up a Knotweed Management
Plan - especially if a number of
contractors (i.e. demolition, ground
workers, landscapers) are to be
involved on the site and adhere to it
throughout your project.
Commence treatment/removal
of Japanese knotweed as soon
as possible after discovering its
presence. Treatment of Japanese
knotweed on land banks is highly
recommended as they will prove
easier to either sell or develop than
if the knotweed has been allowed to
thrive for several years.
Adhere to recommendations in the
PCA Knotweed Code of Practice
(2018), when managing and
treating Japanese knotweed.
Property Owners are
Responsible
It is upon the property owner to
knotweed. ensure they manage and control
Allow Japanese knotweed to spread
into adjacent properties, as this will knotweed be allowed to grow
leave you vulnerable to third party
litigation from your neighbour(s).
knotweed on their property. Should
unfettered, you could face litigation for
knotweed encroachment or failing to
prevent the spread of knotweed.
Flail or strim knotweed, as this will
cause the Japanese knotweed to
spread.
Store materials on top of Japanese
knotweed areas, or the materials
themselves could become
contaminated with knotweed and
have to be disposed of accordingly.
If you need help identifying
Japanese knotweed, need a
professional knotweed survey or
simply some general knotweed
advice, contact us, Japanese
Knotweed Ltd, on 0333 2414 413 or
email [email protected] or
visit japaneseknotweed.co.uk