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Sustainable Use of Former or Abandoned Landfills Network, SUFALNET (SUFALNET)
Start date: Dec 31, 2004, End date: Dec 30, 2007 PROJECT  FINISHED 

SUFALNET aims to identify and bring together expertise and best practice, as well as the joint development of policy programs available in Europe on redevelopment and aftercare of landfills, so that former landfills might finally really be dealt with. In this way, the various EU Member States can combine forces, enabling them to deal effectively with the environmental risks posed by these former landfills. It will also help them to find new uses for these landfills, thus increasing the efficient use of building space. Achievements: Achievements so far Europe has around 150.000 former and abandoned landfill sites in which waste has been dumped in the past. These landfill sites cover approximately 300.000 hectares. This is equal to the size of Madrid, Paris and Rome together. Many sites do not have any environmental facilities at all to prevent contaminants threatening public health and environment. Most sites are located on the edge of cities. People living near such landfills tend to keep their distance from these landfills. However complete removal of these landfills is very expensive. Transformation into new uses such as city park, golf course, industrial or even residential area and forestry is more beneficial. The environment will be protected, remediation costs will be saved, the area will be upgraded, investments will create new jobs and local green fields will be preserved. In order to reduce environmental and public health risks and to promote re-use of these former and abandoned landfills SufalNet has identified and brought together expertise available in Europe. Papers, showcases and presentations have been prepared by partners and have been discussed during 6 seminars. The first opening seminar was held in June 2005 in Mierlo, Netherlands. Regional Councillor mrs. Annemarie Moons opened the SufalNet-project. The landfillsite Gulbergen with a golfcourse of 27 holes was visited. The second seminar was held in October 2005 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Best practices in examining environmental risks of former landfills were discussed and evaluated. Two landfills in Vilnius were visited. Third seminar of SufalNet was held in May 2006 inVenice, Italy. This seminar was moderated by Edward Kavazanjian, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, USA. A decision strategy on when and how to redevelop former and closed landfills was discussed. The San Guiliano landfill as part of the Porto Marghera in Venice was visited. Fourth seminar of SufalNet was in October 2006 in Asti, Italy. Papers and showcases were presented on how to implement aftercare of closed landfills. Prof. Raffaello Cossu and Mr. Roberto Musacchio (MEP) atttended this seminar in Asti. SufalNet's fifth seminar was held in May 2007 in Poznan. Showcases of transforming closed landfills into a golfcourse in Mierlo (Netherlands), residential area in Maastricht (Netherlands) and industrial- together with ecological area in Belfast (United Kingdom) were presented. Also how to communicate risks related to rededeveloped landfills was discussed. The final seminar of SufalNet was held in November 2007 in Brussels. At this conference the Model Strategy by SufalNet was presented and it was discussed with stakeholders and a forum of politicians.

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  • 52.5%   690 460,22
  • 2000 - 2006 Interreg IIIC West
  • Project on KEEP Platform
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