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 Newsletter No.2, February 2007Strategy for promoting redevelopment of closed landfills discussed The redevelopment of closed landfill sites can provide substantial environmental, economic and social benefits, but to realise these benefits, the problems often associated with landfill redevelopment must be overcome. These include lack of knowledge about redevelopment opportunities, a poor financial return for the private sector property developer given the potential environmental and financial risks associated with redevelopment and the public’s negative perception of landfill sites. A three step approach should be adopted to resolve these problems:
Picture shows large landfill Seehausen (Leipzig) – Post-closure use as a golf course On October 12 and 13, the partners of “Sufalnet” project met in Asti to discuss on issues concerning land re-use of closed landfills. Our town has been facing the issue for years - the Valle Manina landfill has been lacking waterproof devices since its creation in 1973 and until 1993 – and today land reclamation of the area is a burden on the budgets of municipalities that disposed off their waste in the past. Following the events of Valle Manina, and the exchange of experiences in the framework of the project “Sufalnet”, the Municipality of Asti - and I believe all the actors involved in the project as well - has reinforced several beliefs: the principles adopted to detect and manage the sites for waste disposal must be transparent; citizens must be involved in the decision process and correctly informed, so as to avoid any conflict. Three assumptions underlie our policy: a waste disposal integrated system, environmental protection and reclamation of closed landfill, in order to give them back to the citizens. Wastes may constitute a resource, therefore the more we separate waste, the less it will flow into disposal facilities. Asti holds the primacy in Italy for waste separation (65%): the reduction of waste production is our next goal. In these years, Sufalnet has pointed out the importance of sharing and exchange experiences and good practises: a working method involving several actors on the territory, that the Municipality of Asti intends to further develop in the framework of other European projects on crucial issues like energy saving. We rest upon the possibility to find partners sharing the same interest for joint actions, concrete interventions and common objectives. The third SufalNet seminar was held in Venice on 10 and 11 May 2006, was hosted by CORILA, a non-profit association of the universities in Venice and Padua. CORILA manages research activities on polluted sites in the Venice Lagoon. Papers and showcases were presented by four SufalNet partners, two from Germany (Emden and Leipzig), together with Italy (Turin) and Slovakia (Kosice) on how to transform closed landfills into public parks providing much needed open space and recreation facilities for the local community. Edward Kavazanjian, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, USA presented a draft strategy for promoting the redevelopment of closed landfills. As a showcase the San Giuliano landfill site which forms part of the Port of Marghera was visited. Between 1945 and 1990 industrial and municiple waste was dumped on this 60 hectare site which was redeveloped as an urban park containing 10 kilometres of pedestrian and cycle paths and opened to the public in 2004. Prof. Margeritha Turvani from the University of Venice stated that the public has benefited greatly from the redevelopment of the San Giuliano Park, but concluded that the realization of projects like this are expensive and must be jointly financed by the public and private sector. San Quiliano park (Venice) – Post-closure use as city-park Sufalnet’s fourth seminar was on 12 and 13 October 2006 in Asti and was hosted by the Municipality of Asti in the Piedmont region of Italy. Papers and showcases were presented by 4 partners, Germany (Lower Saxony), two from Italy (Salerno, Verona) and from the United Kingdom (West Sussex). At the Valle Manina, landfill site on the outskirts of Asti, the Lower Saxony representative treated delegates to a demonstration of soil and groundwater testing. This was carried out by specialist equipment contained within a vehicle and trailer providing a mobile on-site service. Soil- and Wastecare (Netherlands) presented a draft model-strategy on reducing risks to human health and the environment. It was concluded that the aftercare of closed landfills requires regional policies and a public aftercare agency to execute technical, financial, legal and communicational controls. Prof. Raffaello Cossu from the University of Padua, spoke on the concept of sustainable landfilling. Roberto Musacchio, an Italian member of the European Parliament discussed the issue of closed landfills at a European level.Press-conference in Salerno, Italy On 27 February 2006 a press-conference was held in Salerno by GES.CO Environment. President Raffaele Fiorillo, who spoke on the opportunity to redevelop former landfill sites in Salerno province, stressed the importance of the public acceptance of landfilling. SufalNet presented showcases and suggested golf courses or public arena for pop concerts as possible redevelopment uses. Public engagement, civic pride and a strong sense of public ownership is key to the succes of any redevelopment project if the scheme is to be accepted and used by the local community. The presenations were well received by the media and as a result several articles appeared on local and regional television. National Forest Centre, The Slovak Republic Main reason for participation of the National Forest Centre in SufalNet was dissemination of experiences related to afforestation of former landfill sites in Slovakia. Afforestation of former landfills was frequently used in Slovakia in the last decades. Trees are effective at stabilising of contaminated land by reducing the transfer of contamination and potential exposure to humans and enviroment. Responsible authorities have to find new practices for reclamation and sustainable use of closed landfills. In order to disseminate the best practices SufalNet was presented at several conferences and seminars in Slovak Republic about waste management and reclamation of old environmental risks. Professional participants from central Europe obtained general information about project and web-site address. Showcases of the San Giuliano park in Venice and the Gulbergen golf course in the Netherlands were presented. All participants obtained the brochure „Sufalnet“ in Slovak language. Wielkopolska region, Poland Since 2002 26 uncontrolled landfills landfilled with hazardous waste (burial grounds) are being remediated in the Wielkopolska Region. The waste has been incinerated in Germany. At present it will be transported and incinerated to a recently opened incineration plant in the south of Poland. Polluted soil was transported to an environmentally controlled hazardous waste landfill. After excavation protection layers are installed and fertile soil for afforestation and grass sowing have been delivered. Over 3 hectares have been reclaimed. Presently, the second stage of the project is being carried out. It embraces 13 remaining burial grounds.The experiences and best practices of SufalNet are being dissiminated at meetings during the project. The North Foreshore, Belfast Belfast City’s proposed development of the North foreshore is a massive project by any standard. The scale of the ambition however is matched by a clear vision of how the former landfill site will be transformed into one of the city’s greatest assets. The site lies on the North-Western shore of Belfast Lough, 3 kilometres from the city centre and encompasses more than 130 hectares. Its role as a landfill site will cease this year and Belfast City Council envisages regenerating the site with a mix of leisure and recreational facilities, sustainable enterprise and environmentally friendly waste management facilities. About one-third of the site is ripe for development and here the Council plans to create employment by clustering a new generation of waste management and green-themed businesses in an Environmental Business Park. Buildings will meet the highest environmental standards, the design and architecture will reflect their green credentials and sustainability will permeate every level of the project. One of the most innovative features of the Park will be its energy supply which will be generated by harvesting potentially harmful landfill gases and turning them into power. In the northern part of the site, the Council proposes to develop the ‘Giant’s Park’, a 90 hectare world class public park and a symbol of renewal in a part of the city which has suffered from 30-years of civil unrest. Like all brownfield projects, it will seek to transform a liability into an asset and provide a legacy for future generations to enjoy. The Giant’s Park will offer a new perspective by creating a safe, accessible and natural environment where people of all ages can enjoy the open space for generations to come. Seminar on showcases of redevelopment projects in Poznan, Poland Next seminar of SufalNet will be in Poznan on 9 and 10 May 2007 and will be hosted by the Marshall office of Wielkopolska region in Poland. The Wielkopolska region is located in western Poland and is the second biggest region of Poland. In particular landfills that do not fulfil environmental requirements and can not be modernized will be closed. At this fifth seminar showcases of redevelopment projects and communication strategies will be discussed. At the second day of the seminar 2 old landfill sites for recreational and industrial purposes will be visited. Download a PDF of the Newsletter No.2, February 2007. Project Secretariat: Rene Beijnen Province of North-Brabant 0031-73-6812504 More information:
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