Environment agency on Japanese knotweed

The Environment Agency has identified Japanese knotweed as one of the most invasive plants in the UK. For this reason, they developed a code of practice for developers. The code of practice outlines what Japanese knotweed is and how to manage land that is infested by Japanese knotweed in a timely and appropriate manner.

By following the Environmental Agency's Japanese knotweed code of practice, you can help avoid:

• Excessive cost
• Prosecution and/or compensation claims covered by  Japanese knotweed legislation
• Physical damage caused by Japanese Knotweed to land and property
• Harm to the environment.

Using the Environment Agency’s Japanese knotweed code of practice

One of the main aims of the Environment Agency is to ensure that  Japanese knotweed removal & treatment programmes result in a minimal amount of waste going to landfill. Putting waste to landfill, particularly a controlled waste like Japanese knotweed, can be very costly.

By using a contractor like Wise Knotweed Solutions, who follow the Environment Agency’s Japanese knotweed code of practice, you can be sure that any treatment or removal programme you enter into is within regulated guidelines. It also ensures you obtain a 'Real and Meaningful' Japanese knotweed guarantee approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Property Care Association (PCA). All these elements combined provide the assurances that banks and other lenders require to obtain a mortgage on an affected property.

More details on the Japanese knotweed code of practice

• The Environment Agency suggests that the amount of Japanese knotweed infested soil to be excavated should be kept to a minimum due to the large costs involved with sending it to landfill.
• All the staff who are working on the site should be able to identify the Japanese knotweed rhizome. This will help reduce waste costs and improve how Japanese knotweed is managed on the site.
• Topsoil from elsewhere, particularly soil moved from one part of the site to the other, must be thoroughly inspected for Japanese knotweed. Even the smallest part can grow into a whole new plant.
• Any Japanese knotweed infested soil that has been treated can be used when you are landscaping the site but should not be taken away from the site unless it is to landfill.
• The Environment Agency’s Japanese knotweed code of practice suggests that a designated clerk of works should oversee the Japanese knotweed removal and treatment. This will also ensure that any contractors on-site will treat Japanese knotweed appropriately.
• It should be noted that under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 it is illegal to cause the spread of Japanese knotweed and all waste which contains Japanese knotweed has to be disposed of at a licensed landfill site.

Contact a Japanese knotweed specialist

If you have or suspect you have, Japanese knotweed on your property or building site you can contact Wise Knotweed Solutions on freephone 0808 231 9218 for advice. 

Alternatively, you can find your local branch or contact the team online by clicking the button below.

Contact Wise Knotweed Solutions