Can You Put Japanese Knotweed in a Skip?

Rubbish skip

Disposing of Japanese knotweed is a delicate business. One must be extremely careful when handling this invasive weed - even a tiny fragment of its hardy rhizome root system can grow into a whole new plant if returned to the soil.

For this reason, there are a lot of rules about what you can and can't do with Japanese knotweed after digging it up. If you allow the plant to spread into the wild, you may be fined thousands of pounds or even imprisoned (see Japanese Knotweed Law).

Don't toss your knotweed in a skip!

In the summer of 2010, a rubbish skip in the Welsh town of Maesteg was moved by the council after it was found to contain Japanese knotweed.

Now, there are a a number of acceptable ways to deal with Japanese knotweed - but it's safe to say that simply chucking the plant in a skip and forgetting about it is not one of them!

How to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed

The Maesteg skip was reportedly left in a layby outside a local pub, where it stood for several months before it was finally emptied and removed. Bridgend County Borough Council subsequently issued the following statement:

"Japanese Knotweed is an invasive plant which forms thick, dense colonies that completely crowd out all other herbaceous species. It is a criminal offence to cause it to spread, and as it is classed as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act (1990), Japanese Knotweed can only be disposed of at a specialist tip with a licence issued by the Environment Agency Wales."

The council also called in agents from the Environment Agency Wales to investigate the matter, which should give you an idea of how seriously cases of improper knotweed disposal are treated.

What to do instead

If you've discovered knotweed on your property, we strongly recommend consulting a Japanese knotweed specialist before you attempt to get rid of this plant. A qualified knotweed expert will be able to: