What Sufalnet aims for
SufalNet is an interregional cooperation project funded by INTERREG III-C. This European program helps regions without joint borders to work together in networks of cooperation. By sharing knowledge and expertise these partnerships enable the regions involved to develop new solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges. SufalNet brings together knowledge and expertise regarding former and abandoned landfills throughout Europe. It has resulted in a model-strategy based on best practices. In this way SufalNet contributes to more efficient policymaking in order to reduce environmental and public health risks caused by former and abandoned landfills and to save greenfields by redeveloping these sites and giving them a new future.
Sufalnet: reducing risks and saving greenfields in communication with stakeholders
Landfills in Europe
Europe counts around 150.000 of these landfills which cover around 300.000 hectares. Most of these landfills are not sufficiently provided with facilities to protect the environment. They are either a threat to the environment or ‘no-go areas’. Removal of a single landfill sites might solve the local threat, but is a nonsense option on a regional or even national level. The Sufalnet project showed that transformation into new uses for example citypark, golfcourse, industrial or even residential area and forestry is is feasible. The winking perspective is that environmental risks are controlled, remediation costs are reduced, the area is more attractive for the people that live there and for investors, new investments will create new jobs and local greenfields are preserved.
The Sufalnet contribution
SufalNet has developed a Model Strategy for regenerating former and abandoned landfills. It is the result of European cooperation and exchange of best practices within the Sufalnet project and the implementation of the concept of Risk based Land management developed in earlier European RTD projects, like CARACAS and Clarinet.