Work on the reclamation of a landfill

Renaturalisation and soil greening

Reclamation work on this project began on 12 July 2023, one of the hottest days of the summer. Nevertheless, the first application phase of the pre-seeded biotextile Viresco® Sator began.

This is the final element in the reclamation of a landfill on the Venetian mainland, an area that for many years was the scene of highly polluting production activities and which is now the subject of various reclamation and, in this case, renaturalisation and greeningoperations.

For this delicate purpose, the pre-seeded anti-erosion Viresco® Sator biotextile was chosen, specially prepared with a mixture developed by the Works Management.

The mixture had actually been conceived in view of initially different, milder climatic conditions, but the work on the site, which lasted longer than expected, made the laying unavoidable in a season that could almost be described as prohibitive.

Despite the fact that the contractor working on the site undertook to perform daily irrigation and cover the banks with topsoil, there were initially practically no germination results, apart from the areas at the foot of the slope that could benefit from more moisture from the water deposited as a result of gravity.

It was therefore decided to stop watering, while waiting for the temperatures to drop, and hope for some rain. Rains arrived in the last third of the month in the form of “water bombs” and hail, so violent that they swept away the layer of earth spread over the surface.

This is always alternated with peaks of strong heat.

Irrigation resumed and germination began to take place in a tangible way.

Virens applications

The photos show various stages of the work and the behaviour of the product.

From the moment of laying, where the great adhesion capacity of Viresco can be appreciated, to the moments when germination begins to appear.

As can be seen, initially there are only a few signs in the lower areas, where moisture is more present. However, the grassing progresses gradually, spreading throughout the surface.

The laying in the various areas took place in staggered stages over time, but the areas initially treated on 12 July to the end of August presented themselves with highly developed vegetation.

Only in one area covered by a strip of geomembrane did the lawn subsequently wither.

In October, all the greening work was completed in both the slope and summit areas.