Excavating Japanese Knotweed: Is Digging It Out the Best Fix?

When herbicide won’t cut it, excavation might be the answer to removing Japanese Knotweed for good.

This method involves digging out the contaminated soil to a set depth to fully remove the knotweed. Sounds simple, but it’s costly and not the most eco-friendly option. Why? Because the removed soil is classed as controlled waste, which means only licensed companies can handle it. Plus, it has to go to a specific landfill, and not all sites accept it. That means added transport fees and Landfill Tax - ouch!

There’s a greener workaround: burying the knotweed on-site. This is usually only an option for large-scale developments (think housing estates), where there's extra land available. In some cases, builders digging deeper foundations can seal off the contaminated soil with a non-permeable membrane.

Not sure what’s right for your property? A professional knotweed survey will recommend the best course of action—whether that’s herbicide, excavation, or a mix of both.