NEW SITE ALERT: ISTD FOR JAPANESE KNOTWEED IN HEERLEN

We are treating Japanese knotweed by thermal desorption in Heerlen, the Netherlands.

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an invasive, non-native plant in Europe.
The plant spreads through stem parts and rhizomes, causing damage to ecosystems, infrastructure and buildings.

The municipality of Heerlen is mapping the locations where knotweed grows, and applying management measures and controls.

With this unique pilot, the municipality of Heerlen and its partners want to investigate whether this unwanted exotic plant can be thermally controlled.

To eradicate this harmful plant, the municipality of Heerlen, in collaboration with Plantengezondheidsdienst and Thermal Clean Shift, decided to use thermal conduction.
To do this, they are relying on the Smart Burners technology, which was developed by Haemers Technologies more than 10 years ago.

During this pilot, the soil around the roots of knotweed is heated for about two weeks.
Sixteen tubes are inserted into the soil. These tubes are heated with gas burners until the soil around the roots of Japanese knotweed reaches the desired temperature (80°).

Through this treatment the roots die and can no longer cause damage to the infrastructure.