Site History
VertaseFLI were appointed to carry out knotweed clearance work in advance of large scale in-situ bio-remediation work, at the former Powell Duffryn Oil Storage Depot and Coal Yard in Purfleet, Essex. The works comprised primarily the excavation and removal of severe infestation of Japanese knotweed from several areas of the site including difficult areas where penetration by rhizomes around buried pipes, wall foundations and slabs required careful excavation. The site is bordered by a major mainline railway on one side and the river Thames Flood Defence Seawall on another requiring special precautions and care when excavating in the vicinity of these sensitive structures and operational areas. Japanese Knotweed Removal
The site has a history of oil and petrochemical processing and storage and exhibits areas of extreme contamination. Consequently and contrary to the usual knotweed contracts undertaken by VertaseFLI it was found that a significant amount of the knotweed infested soils were dug from areas of sever hydrocarbon contamination and these had to be carefully separated from uncontaminated soils. The contamination was severe enough to class the soils as hazardous and the non-hazardous landfill usually able to take knotweed was unable to accept it in its contaminated condition. Alternative hazardous soil disposal was considerably more expensive so VertaseFLI will treat this material on site thus offering a significant saving to the client. Following completion of ex-situ bio-remediation the knotweed infested soil will be acceptable to a non-hazardous landfill for disposal. | 
