Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
Cutting down or digging up invasive plants and burning the waste plant material can be a useful, low-tech means of control. It can reduce the volume of waste that you need to dispose of off site.
Cutting Japanese knotweed will, over time, weaken the plant, but it will not kill the rhizomes (underground root-like stems). It can be used as part of other control practices. You must not use a strimmer on Japanese knotweed.
You must handle and dispose of cut plant material carefully.
Cutting giant hogweed before the plants flower will help to prevent further seeds being deposited on the ground. This is an effective way of removing these species but it can take many years. You must not use a strimmer on giant hogweed.
You must avoid contact with giant hogweed, particularly its sap, as it can cause chemical skin burns. You should wear full protective clothing when working near it or handling it. Giant hogweed sap remains toxic after the plant has been cut down. Do not leave cut stems where they could harm people or livestock.
Pulling up Himalayan balsam within four weeks of the first flowers being seen is the most effective method of control. Do not cut the plants before they flower as this can result in a more bushy plant that produces more flowers. The best time to cut is late May. Cut the plant below the first nodule. Make sure you place cut Himalayan balsam material on a membrane and not in direct contact with the ground.
Burning plant material should only give rise to white smoke.
Tell the local fire brigade before you begin burning and again when you finish, so that they are not called out unnecessarily
If you burn waste in the open, you may require a waste management licence or exemption.
Waste Management Licences
You may qualify for a paragraph 30 exemption to burn certain waste plant tissue and untreated wood if you:
If you have an exemption, you must comply with the exemption objectives and register this exemption:
You must also ensure that your activity does not:
In Northern Ireland you must notify the NIEA at least a week before you intend burning plant material. You should also notify your district council environmental health officer before you begin burning plant material.
NIEA: Waste exemption for burning waste in the open
In Scotland you should notify your local authority environmental health officer before you begin burning plant material.
SEPA: Waste management licensing exemptions
If you burn waste in an incinerator or other similar plant, you may need a pollution prevention and control permit.
Your legal responsibilities in Northern Ireland
Your legal responsibilities in Scotland
Handling and working with invasive plants
Spraying invasive plants with herbicide
Cutting and burning invasive plants
Burying invasive plant material on site
Disposing of invasive plants and contaminated soils off-site
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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