Notable case, Kölliken, Aargau, Switzerland

Kölliken hazardous waste landfill

Sondermülldeponie Kölliken

Switzerland's largest hazardous waste landfill, opened in 1978 and closed in 1985: broadcaster SRF calls it the country's largest contaminated site. It was emptied completely, at a cost of about 900 million francs.

Status: Remediated
Area: 3.3 ha on land¹
Activity: 1978–1985
Media: soil, groundwater, surface water
Kind of site: landfill, chemical works

Area. 33,000 m² according to Swiss broadcaster SRF.

Contaminants

Mixtures and waste

Status

Remediated

Excavation ran from 2007 to 2015: 600,000 tonnes of material removed, at a cost of about 900 million Swiss francs. The land has been sold to Pro Natura and the municipality: two thirds will return to farming and one third will be restored to nature by 2030 (SRF).

Story

The landfill was run by a consortium of the cantons of Aargau and Zurich, the city of Zurich and the Basel chemical industry. Toxic substances reached the village stream and killed the fish; in 1985 the municipality ordered it closed, and the authorities concluded that the site could not be made adequately safe.

Between 2007 and 2015 the whole contents were dug out and disposed of. Costs were shared among the consortium members: 42% each for the cantons of Aargau and Zurich, 8% each for the city of Zurich and Basel's chemical industry; the federal government contributed 215 million francs. Demolishing the halls and plant took another four years.

Timeline

1978The landfill opens.
1985The municipality of Kölliken orders its closure.
2007Excavation of the waste begins.
2015Excavation ends: 600,000 tonnes removed.

Remediation

2007excavationComplete excavation of the waste and contaminated ground (2007–2015).

From the literature

Species that acted on one of this site's contaminants in at least one study. The list is automatic and takes no account of this site's soil, concentrations or climate.