Soil & neophytes
Stay on safe ground with your construction project
Recycle or dispose
Contamination of the soil with pollutants is usually not visible. If contaminated soil is removed, for example in connection with a construction project, the law requires that the soil is either recycled in an environmentally sound manner or disposed of correctly.
In the vicinity of current or former industrial plants or near roads and railroads, substances that are hazardous to the environment and health are often found in the soil.
Plant protection products and fertilizers can also pollute the soil. In the same way, problematic alien plants (invasive neophytes) that spread rapidly can lead to biological pollution. Neophytes displace native plants and endanger biodiversity. They can cause damage to buildings and cause problems in agriculture and forestry. We evaluate and plan measures to combat neophytes.
Our services
Our environmental professionals can assist you with the following services:
- Planning and carrying out soil sampling
- Analysis of the soil samples in a certified external laboratory
- Elaboration of recommendations for use
- Monitoring and documentation of displacements of contaminated soil material during construction projects and support during excavation
- Survey and control of neophytes, evaluation and planning of measures for their control
Our soil can be contaminated with pollutants
Do you, as a landowner or builder, have indications of encumbrances, would you like to have a suspicion clarified or would you like to avoid unpleasant surprises?
Contact
Melanie Tschopp-Vögtli
Head of Department Contaminated Sites and Geology
Julia Hunziker
Deputy Head of the Contaminated Sites and Geology Department
Our references
Pesticide testing, Dielsdorf
Large property, Lake Zug
Removal of contaminated soil, Unterengstringen
Children playground, Dübendorf
Investigation of contaminated sites, Obfelden
Pesticide testing, Dielsdorf
A large arable land area was leased for many years by an agrochemical company and used as a test field for pesticides and chlorine pesticides. No precise information could be obtained about the long history of use and the sprays used. In a differentiated investigation campaign, soil samples were taken in various subplots from different depth ranges to over 60 cm and analyzed in stages for conventional pollutants such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as for pesticides and chlorine pesticides. more >>
Large property, Lake Zug
Parts of a large property on Lake Zug were registered in the test perimeter for soil displacements (PBV) and thus showed an increased suspicion of chemical soil contamination. The suspected causes of contamination were a nearby main road (traffic carrier), the location in an old building area, and an old vineyard. The suspected areas were specifically investigated according to the suspected sources of contamination. It was found that only the area along the main road was slightly contaminated. The other suspicious facts could be eliminated with the well-founded investigations. more >>
Removal of contaminated soil, Unterengstringen
For the construction of two new apartment buildings on a former market garden site, the slightly contaminated soil had to be removed to a depth of around
half a meter deep had to be removed and disposed of. Since the project is located in an extensive archaeological zone, prospective soundings and profile excavations were carried out by the cantonal archaeology department prior to soil removal. In addition, the removal and disposal of the soil was subject to restrictive requirements and specifications by the cantonal archaeology department. Ecosens AG's specialist site management coordinated all matters from the explorations to the disposal. more >>
Children playground, Dübendorf
Due to various previous uses on the site of a current children's playground, there was a general suspicion of possible pollutant contamination in the soil. Since children regularly spent time playing on the meadow areas and oral ingestion of soil could not be ruled out, the responsible municipality considered a corresponding investigation to be sensible. With object-specific planned and executed investigations, well-founded knowledge about the pollutant concentrations in the soil could be obtained and the all-clear could be given. more >>
Investigation of contaminated sites, Obfelden
In connection with the operation of an electroplating shop in Obfelden for about 40 years, the site was entered in the register of contaminated sites (KbS). In addition to chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs), various heavy metals (especially chromate) and non-chlorinated cooling lubricants were used in the electroplating shop. The site had already been historically and technically investigated in 1995 and 2010/2011, during which contamination of the soil and pore air was detected. Due to the lack of criteria for the assessment of sites contaminated with CHCs at that time, further investigations were postponed. The contaminated site investigation was resumed in 2016. The results of additional investigations enabled the site delineation as well as the contaminated site classification. The sites were classified as requiring remediation with regard to CHC and chromate. The classification and the official rulings on cost allocation were the basis for the planned change of ownership, which could take place in 2020/2021 with the approval of the AWEL (Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air). more >>
