Model Strategy on Redevelopment of Former and Abandoned Landfills

A European interregional cooperation project, funded by INTERREG IIIC, started in 2005 to cope with the problems of these former and abandoned landfills. The project is called SUFALNET (Sustainable Use of Former and Abandoned Landfills Network). Twenty-one organizations from twelve European countries participate in the network. The overall objective of SUFALNET is to reduce environmental risks and to stimulate re-use of former landfills through exchange and dissemination of policies, projects and instruments. SUFALNET brings all the knowledge and experiences acquired by the different member states together into one network. Three model strategies on examination, aftercare and redevelopment of former and abandoned landfills have been drawn up. The three strategies together form an integrated strategy for considering the management of former and abandoned landfills. All three model strategies are based on “best practices” and have been presented on the Eleventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium at Sardinia in October 2007 and in Brussels in November 2007. In this way SUFALNET contributes to more efficient policymaking and implementation with respect to former landfills. Equally, the project reduces environmental and public health risks caused by these landfills, and increases the efficiency of spatial planning.