Japanese knotweed treatment environment and law

Conservation stream

It’s illegal to plant or otherwise encourage the growth of Japanese knotweed (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) and this includes cutting the plant or roots and disturbing surrounding soil unless properly managed.

Under new law you can not allow Japanese knotweed to spread from your property.and legal action can be taken.

Any soil or plant material that you move is classed as “controlled waste” and would need special waste transfer documentation to a designated delivery site.

Moving knotweed plants or their soil to a waste site is strictly controlled by the Environment Agency. Not all landfill sites are able to take Japanese knotweed contaminated material, which is regulated under Part 2 of the environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Hazard Waste Regulations 2005.

As of the 2014 order People who fail to control the spread of invasive non-native plants such as Japanese Knotweed could be fined or receive anti-social behaviour orders.

Various other codes of practice and pesticide regulations also have to be adhered to, with only BASIS registered people allowed to advise on herbicide control treatments.