The former Kinneil Kerse landfill site is approximately 152ha in area and is located adjacent to the southern bank of the Forth Estuary. The site was an active landfill between the 1920s and 2000.
It was known that the site was not capped to current standards and many areas had developed into ecological habitats over the past 20 years. The site is also adjacent to the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) (Kinneil Lagoon) which is used by over-wintering and migratory waders, wildfowl and seabirds. Large areas of Giant Hogweed had also been identified at the site.
It was agreed with regulators that capping of the landfill would take place using existing materials available from stockpiles on site with the incorporation of a gas flaring system. The restoration works would incorporate landscaping and planting to improve the biodiversity of the site.