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Who we are: Wholly employee-owned, Environmental Reclamation Services Ltd (ERS), is a team of >30 engineers and scientists dedicated to providing the most appropriate and cost-effective site assessment and remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater. Trusted by Property Developers, House builders, Housing Associations, Local Authorities, Supermarkets, Loss Adjusters, Civils Contractors and Consultants, ERS’ projects range in value from under £5k to over £1m. ERS is Constructionline, CHAS and SMAS accredited and Achilles registered. Services include: Environmental and geotechnical site investigation On- and off-site remediation of contaminated soil Treatment of contaminated groundwater Invasive weeds survey and treatment Who we’re looking for… We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who can fulfil the role of yard hand, delivery driver and general enabling worker for our busy site investigation department.  You will play a key role in the smooth and efficient running of our projects. For the right person there is variety, challenge and the opportunity to grow in skills and receive NVQ level training on operating our drilling rigs. Duties will include (but not be limited to): Maintaining a clean and safe yard, workshop and storage areas. General yard duties Labouring Loading / unloading trailers Pick-up / deliver plant and equipment to sites / yard Any other duties as the business requires We’re keen to speak to people who: Have a positive attitude to Health & Safety Have a “can-do” attitude Are well organised Have a good level of fitness (the role will involve heavy lifting at times) Have the ability to work on their own initiative Are reliable and hard working Essential Requirements: Full UK Driving License (including trailer licence) Fluency in spoken and written English Eligibility to work in the UK Location… The successful applicant will be based in our Glasgow office when not travelling around sites. In return… ERS provides a competitive remuneration package, including an Employee Ownership bonus scheme, tailored to your skills, experience and requirements. ERS is an equal opportunities employer. No applicant will be treated less favourably on the grounds of sex, marital or parental status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age. Interested? If you feel that your skills, experience and personality would fit well with the ERS team, send us your CV in the strictest confidence to jobs@ersremediation.com or to Recruitment, ERS, Westerhill Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow G64 2QH. Please note that CVs will NOT be accepted from recruitment agencies

Whilst common invasive non-native plant species like Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Himalayan Balsam are known to grow on the edges of lochs and watercourses in Scotland, often less attention is paid to invasive non-native species that grow in the water. However, many such invasive non-native water plants are already widespread across Scotland whilst some are better established further south in the UK and are just starting to spread to Scottish rivers and lochs. Some of these invasive non-native plants have escaped (or been fly tipped) from garden ponds and aquariums. Another common method of spread is via fragments which can hitchhike on leisure boats/canoes, fishing equipment, animals and aquaculture/maintenance equipment. Species Affecting Scotland As most invasive non-native water plants initially escaped into the wild much further south, it has taken longer for them to spread to and across Scotland, despite the amount of leisure visitors coming to our lochs and rivers. Many plants have much lower distribution profiles across Scotland compared to parts of England and Wales. However, these four plants are already well established across Scotland: Canadian Pondweed Canadian Pondweed / Waterweed (Elodea canadensis) is native to temperate parts of Canada and northern America. It was first recorded in Berwickshire in 1842 and today it is endemic across the whole of the UK and Ireland with only some remote parts of the Highlands remaining unaffected. It has thread-like stems growing up to 3m in length, with branching stems around 30cm long, bearing whorls of three curved round ended leaves 4.5-17mm long. Unlike other invasive non-native water plants, it is tolerant of faster flowing water, although cannot form dense beds there. It reproduces vegetatively as all plants are female in the UK. Fragmented stems sink and take root, establishing new growth. A range of native fish and birds eat it, but these don’t have a significant control effect and may even help it spread. The most effective method of remediation is the physical removal of the plants, such as hand pulling and raking. However, as the plant reproduces and spreads by fragmentation, care needs to be taken to ensure all vegetation is removed. This can make complete eradication difficult, following the initial treatment up with an ongoing management plan is the best way to prevent regrowth and re-establishment in affected sites. Nuttall's Pondweed Nuttall’s Pondweed / Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) is another plant native to the temperate North American region. It was first recorded in a ditch in Oxfordshire in 1966. Since then it has spread widely across England and Wales, and is also present across Scotland, though mostly concentrated in the central belt and south. Nuttall’s Pondweed looks very similar to Canadian Pondweed, except the leaves have pointed ends, and it also reproduces and spreads vegetatively through fragmentation as all plants are female in the UK. Again, the best method of control is by physically removing the plants, being sure to not leave any plant fragments, followed up with an ongoing management plan. New Zealand Pygmyweed New Zealand Pygmyweed / Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii) is native to Australasia and was introduced to the UK in 1911 as an oxygenating plant for ponds. It is now widely spread across England and Wales and is present throughout Scotland, except for northern and remote regions of the Highlands, although much more sporadically than down South. New Zealand Pygmyweed is an emergent or marginal evergreen perennial. With 2cm long succulent leaves in pairs opposite each other, bearing a single white or pale pink flower with four petals. It can produce seeds but these are not viable therefore, the main method of spread is vegetatively via fragmentation. A single node <5mm of stem can regenerate into a new plant. The plant can tolerate less water than full aquatics and will grow in ditches and marshy margins of ponds and lochs, as well as submerged in the water. It can form dense mats up to 3m deep, shading out native plants and leading to deoxygenation of the water which is harmful to aquatic life. In areas where the plant is out of the water, New Zealand Pygmyweed can be treated with herbicides, but for submerged growth physical removal must be used, taking care to remove all plant fragments. It can be very difficult to eradicate as tiny fragments can regenerate, so initial removal must be followed up with an ongoing management plan. Curly Waterweed Curly Waterweed (Lagarosiphon major) is native to southern Africa. First noted in the wild in Bedfordshire in 1944, today it is widespread across England and Wales. In Scotland, it is still largely consigned to the central belt and the south, although it has been reported in parts of the Highlands and Orkney too. The plant has strongly curved dark green leaves in a spiral arrangement and can grow up to 3m in water. It also reproduces vegetatively by fragmentation. It grows as a dense “canopy” in slow moving water bodies like canals and ponds, it impedes water flow and blocks out light outcompeting native plants. In areas of dense growth it can deoxygenate the water and harm aquatic life. As Curly Waterweed is another submerged plant that spreads by fragmentation, it is best treated initially by removing the plants, followed up with an ongoing management plan. Ones to Watch Out For The following two plants are not yet widespread in Scotland but do have isolated established populations in some areas and are already very widespread throughout England, so will definitely pose a threat to Scotland’s lochs and rivers in the future if care isn’t taken to prevent their spread: Parrot's Feather Parrot’s Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) is native to the lowlands of South America and has been cultivated in the UK since 1878. It was first recorded in the wild in 1960 and is now widespread in the midlands and south of England and parts of Wales. It has been recorded in Dumfries and Galloway and the northern Highlands but has not spread to other parts of Scotland for now. Parrot’s Feather has many branches with whorls of leaves with many fine divides, giving them a feathery appearance. The branches can grow up to 13cm above the water. It forms dense growth in still water such as canals, ponds and ditches but can also grow in flowing water. Significant infestations can block out the light and cause localised oxygen depletion. Cutting, pulling and dredging can be effective methods for controlling smaller areas but care must be taken to avoid fragmentation as this is how the plant vegetatively reproduces. Parrot Feather stands growing above the surface can also be treated using herbicides. As with the other invasive non-native water plants, an ongoing management plan is required to prevent it becoming re-established. Floating Pennywort Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) is native to the Americas. It was first recorded in the UK in Essex in 1990 and has since spread across southeast England and the Midlands, with patches in Wales. Currently it is only found in a couple of locations in the northern Highlands of Scotland but is highly invasive and has the potential to spread further. Floating Pennywort has blunt-toothed, kidney-shaped, flat leaves growing from a fleshy stem which hold them above the water. It does flower but the main method of reproduction is vegetatively by fragmentation and it can regrow from very small fragments. It prefers still or slow-moving water and can rapidly take over ponds and canals in late summer – even to the point where it affects boat users. These dense mats block out the light, out-compete native plants and can cause localise deoxygenation. Physical removal using rakes or weed removal boats is effective at reducing the volume of Floating Pennywort but as it can regrow from very small fragments, an ongoing management plan is required to prevent it recolonising previously treated areas. Herbicides also work well, but in areas of dense growth it cannot reach all the leaves, so a combination of treatments is often used in non-sensitive locations. Remediating invasive Water Plants Because many of these plants grow in and under the water, it is difficult to treat them with herbicides. Outside of man-made watercourses and smaller ponds which have been completely taken over, they share the same environment as many sensitive native plants which would also be affected by chemical control. The best method of control in most cases is to physically remove the plants, which can be done by hand pulling and cutting in small or sensitive sites, or using machinery such as long-reach excavators, dredgers and weed removal boats on larger areas. However, as many of these aquatic invasive weeds reproduce and spread by fragmentation, extra care must be taken to ensure all pieces of the plant are removed and do not spread downstream where they can colonise new areas. Once removed from the water, many plants will dry out and die, and start to decompose. However, dredged material will contain mud and water and may stay damp for several weeks, allowing rhizomes or stem fragments to survive. Care must be taken that this material is disposed of properly (at a suitably licenced facility for Schedule 9 plants ) and not accidentally spread to another water body. As these plants are hardy and will regrow from any remaining plant fragments, complete eradication can be very difficult. Often combinations of control methods with regular repeat treatments over several years will be required, and the methods will vary from location to location depending on the plant, the type of waterbody and the surrounding flora and fauna. For this reason, a site-specific treatment and management plan is essential to prevent regrowth and re-establishment of these invasive weeds in affected area. If you have a site that is affected by one of the invasive non-native water plants above and you would like to know more about ERS’ remediation services or arrange a site survey, please contact our Invasive Weeds team specialist Lianne Cameron on lianne@ersremediation.com. How can I Help Prevent the Spread of Invasive Water Plants in our Rivers and Lochs? Due to the difficulties remediating invasive water plants, prevention really is better than cure. Everyone can help keep an eye on the spread of invasive plants in and out of the water by reporting sightings to the GB Non-native Species Secretariat (NNSS). You can record sightings online using the iRecord website or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk. For people who enjoy water sports and fishing, follow the NNSS’ “Check, Clean, Dry” initiative to prevent the spread of invasive plants to new rivers and lochs: Check Check your equipment, boat, clothing and pets for mud, plants and aquatic animals. Remove anything you find and leave it at the site. Clean Clean equipment thoroughly as soon as you can using hot water if possible. Pay attention to damp areas and don’t forget places that are hard to reach/access. Dry Dry everything properly and leave for as long as you can before using it elsewhere. Some invasive plants and animals can survive for over 2 weeks in damp conditions. There are also local volunteering initiatives across Scotland, so if you’re lucky enough to live near a watercourse or loch that you’re concerned may be affected by invasive plants in and out of the water, ask your local community group, fishing club, River Trust or landowner if there are any opportunities nearby.

Following on from the success of last year's sponsored walk, on Saturday the 2nd of September, ERS staff undertook this year's fundraising challenge: a sponsored walk from Trossach’s Pier to Stronachlacher Pier, a hike of 13 miles / 21km. The Loch is the site of several interesting historical events, including the imprisonment of the Duke of Montrose’s debt-collector by Robert Roy MacGregor (known as the Scottish Robin Hood) on Factor’s Isle to protest the eviction of his family from their land. Along the trail you can also spot Glengyle House, where Robert Roy MacGregor (Rob Roy) was born. We started out early from Trossach’s Pier, the road soon entering pretty woodland with occasional views over the Loch. We continued winding our way around the side of the Loch, the path climbing steeply in places but the trees offering some much needed sections of shade for a bit of relief from the sun beating down on us! We enjoyed the views along the way, passing a number of waterfalls and affording the four legged walkers among us a well deserved dip! We eventually made our way to Stronachlacher Pier, where a much needed seat and cold refreshment was enjoyed before boarding the Sir Walter Scott Steamship to make our way back to Trossach’s Pier. We are pleased to share that this year's fundraiser has so far raised £1000 life-saving funds for the British Heart Foundation. Another truly remarkable effort this year from our amazing staff members! ERS has been raising money for the BHF in memory of our friend and colleague, Steven Nisbet, who sadly passed away suddenly in July 2019. Our goal was to create a lasting legacy and make a number of life-saving defibrillators available for the local community to access. Using the money raised last year, we have since placed 3 defibrillators within the community in Stevie’s honour, with ERS also purchasing and placing one at our Head Office in Bishopbriggs. The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying each year from heart and circulatory disease in the UK, however sadly every day hundreds of people lose their lives. It's only thanks to support and donations that the BHF can create new treatments and discover new cures. We hope that any cash we manage to raise would go some way to supporting their important work. We would like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising efforts - we appreciate each and every donation. Donations can still be made via https://www.justgiving.com/page/ers

Our HR Manager Sarah McMillan has now been with us for 20 years - another significant milestone for ERS. Sarah originally joined us as an office assistant, and has since gone on to master many tasks and roles, including Office Manager and Facilities Manager. We'd all like to congratulate Sarah on her work anniversary and would like to thank her for everything that she has contributed to ERS - it wouldn't be where it is without her hard work and support. Here's to the next 20 years!

This time in our Contaminant Focus series, we are looking at asbestos. Due to its thermal, electrical and corrosion resistance properties, asbestos was commonly used in many traditional industries for thermal insulation around pipes and boilers and was also used in building products. As a result, it is commonly found in older buildings and also in soils/made ground on brownfield sites where buildings associated with former industries have been demolished before regulations to control asbestos were brought in and enforced. Additionally, because of the high costs involved in the safe handling and disposal of asbestos containing materials (ACM), it is not uncommon to find them fly-tipped on vacant land, so even greenfield sites can still potentially be contaminated by asbestos. What is Asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral found in certain metamorphic rocks. Asbestos has strong elongated fibres, and its physical properties including fire and chemical resistance, led to its widespread use in a huge range of materials. The three main types of asbestos which were most widely used are Chrysotile (a serpentine asbestos), Amosite and Crocidolite (both amphiboles). Why is Asbestos Dangerous? Airborne asbestos fibres can become embedded in the lungs if inhaled, and today it is widely known that asbestos exposure is associated with respiratory diseases, including a rare type of lung cancer called mesothelioma – although the tumours may not develop until decades after exposure. The link between asbestos and cancer was established in the 1930’s, many years after its use became popular during the Industrial Revolution. Yet despite this, the use of asbestos not only continued but actually increased into the 1970’s. It wasn’t until 1985 that a partial ban on asbestos was established in the UK, followed by a full ban in 1999. In addition to mesothelioma, prolonged exposure to asbestos fibres can cause a lung condition called asbestosis, where the fibres cause inflammation and scaring of the lungs. Many people who suffered from this condition worked in asbestos mining or manufacturing industries where they had daily exposure to asbestos dust, but their families often also suffered from it too due to second-hand exposure from dust brought home on clothing. Today, even though the use of asbestos has been banned, it still poses a risk due to its presence in older buildings – including homes, schools and hospitals. Although asbestos fibres bound within construction materials generally pose a low risk, when they are disturbed by occupants or during maintenance/demolition work, the fibres can be released. Because there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos, care needs to be taken to avoid any exposure to fibres and contaminated dust. Most asbestos remediation work is related to removal of asbestos products from older buildings, either prior to demolition, or where it has been found to present a danger to the building’s occupants. However, where older buildings were demolished before regulations were brought in, it is not uncommon to find ACM contamination in soil and made ground as well and it's at this stage that ERS usually becomes involved. How is Asbestos Remediated? All work with asbestos containing soils is subject to the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012, and CAR-SOIL guidance. Depending on factors including ACM type and condition, work involving disturbance of asbestos may be licensed, or non-licenced. Due to our experience in investigating and remediating contaminated land and post-industrial brownfield sites, ERS has considerable expertise in the treatment and removal of non-licensable levels of ACM contamination in soils. Our non-licensed asbestos services include: • Provision of risk assessments and specialist support/supervision • Remediation earthworks for asbestos containing soils • Mechanical screening, hand picking • Stabilisation/solidification • Asbestos waste characterisation • Appropriate handling and disposal of asbestos waste Remedial options depend on the client’s budget, the proposed land use, the site conditions, the type(s) of ACM present and the concentration in the soil. All works involving disturbance of asbestos are planned and undertaken in accordance with CAR-SOIL. A pre-works risk assessment is required to determine the licensing status of the planned works, and the appropriate control measures and procedures, which may include dampening down to prevent fibre release, and air and dust monitoring. Some of Our Asbestos Remediation Projects: Contaminated Made Ground Removal at Former School Site A considerable amount of asbestos contamination had been discovered in made ground at a former school being redeveloped for housing and a care home. ERS undertook screening and hand picking so that clean material could be reused on-site as back-fill under a capping layer. The remaining contaminated material was taken to an appropriate, licenced facility. Real-time air monitoring and dust mitigation were employed to protect local residents and site staff. You can read more about this case study here. Contaminated Soil Removal at Former Hospital Site Asbestos contamination had been identified at a residential development at a former hospital in Scotland, including free fibres. ERS was appointed by the developer to undertake wider remediation of the site, which was also impacted by hydrocarbon contamination. We undertook a pre-works risk assessment, which concluded removal of the ACM contamination hotspots was notifiable non-licensed work, with less contaminated areas meeting the criteria for non-licenced work. The contamination was then delineated and excavated, with material from the hotspots sent for disposal at a suitably licensed facility and the less contaminated material covered for reuse on site underneath capping layers and hardstanding. Appropriate decontamination and risk minimisation procedures were employed during all works, including dust suppression and air monitoring. Contaminated Soil Removal at Confidential Site Asbestos is an emotive subject. Sometimes the perception of risk can be more important that the real risk. This was the view of one client at a confidential site in Inverness. Despite having agreement from the Contaminated Land Officer and SEPA to reuse asbestos contaminated crushed demolition material at depth on site, our client decided that the risk of its retention causing alarm to prospective house buyers was too great. ERS was employed to safely excavate, haul and dispose of 2,000 tonnes of material under the strictest of dust prevention and monitoring regimes to ensure the site was clear of all asbestos.

Our theme for Invasive Species Week 2023 is Garden Escapees. These are ornamental plants originally bought to enhance our gardens, but which have since spread into the wild where they are invasive and are causing biodiversity issues by out-competing native plants. We’ll start with a common ornamental plant which has increasingly been causing problems for homeowners in Scotland – Bamboo. Bamboo Unlike many of the other invasive plants which were also originally introduced to parks during the 19th century, bamboo is still very popular as an ornamental plant and can be found in garden centres around the UK – including the running varieties which cause the most issues for homeowners (and their neighbours). However, as it rarely flowers, spread into the wild mainly occurs by fly-tipping of contaminated soil/garden waste. The plant and rhizomes can be mechanically excavated, including by hand-digging in tighter garden spaces, but care must be taken to remove all the rhizomes as fragments have the potential to propagate into new plants. Additional chemical treatment may be required in hard-to-reach areas where excavation is not possible. Japanese Rose Native to coastal regions of East Asia, this woody perennial resembles the native dog rose and was introduced to parks and gardens in the UK during the mid-19th century. It has since spread to UK coastal habitats, such as sand dunes, both directly from gardens and via birds eating the seeds. Once established, it flourishes and forms dense thickets, which can smother whole dune systems. It out-competes native plants like marram grass, significantly reducing biodiversity and bare sand habitats for dune-dwelling birds and animals, threatening some rare species. Due to the unstable and ecologically sensitive coastal habitats where Japanese Rose is often found, it is not always suitable to use heavy machinery for mechanical removal. In these areas herbicide treatment is required to limit the plant’s spread. Montbretia Montbretia is a plant with similar leaves to irises, but with smaller, clustered, bright orange flowers. Although originally from South Africa, it was first imported into the UK from France during the 19th century. However, it quickly spread from parks and gardens into the wild and today is widespread across much of the UK. Once established, Montbretia forms dense clusters of growth which can cover wide areas. They are winter hardy and can thrive in poorer soils, outcompeting native plants, which can have a significant impact on some ecosystems. The plants produce dense clumps of fleshy corms, similar to bulbs, which can propagate into new plants. The plant can be spread when garden waste containing corms is fly tipped or carelessly disposed of by gardeners. Montbretia plants can be excavated, but it is essential all the corms and roots are removed so the plants can’t regenerate. This often requires mechanical excavation to at least a metre. It can also be treated with herbicides but this needs to be done whilst the plants are actively growing during spring and summer to ensure it reaches all parts of the plant. Curly Waterweed Curly waterweed is an aquatic plant which originates from South Africa and – despite being listed as an invasive plant – it is still widely sold in aquatics shops across the UK as an oxygenating pond plant. It has strongly curved dark green leaves in a spiral arrangement and can grow up to 3m in water. It reproduces by fragmentation – detached stems sink and root, establishing new growth. It grows as a dense “canopy” in slow moving water bodies like canals, impeding water flow and blocking out light, outcompeting native plants. In areas of dense growth it can even reduce dissolved oxygen levels and harm aquatic life. Remediation can be difficult, due to the way the plant spreads by fragmentation and the negative effect herbicide control might have on native plants. However, it can be controlled with an appropriate site-specific treatment and management plan. Any machinery, equipment and clothing must be checked for plant fragments before leaving the site. American Skunk Cabbage The final garden escapee featuring in our Invasive Species Week series is American Skunk Cabbage. Native to North America as its name suggests, American Skunk Cabbage was introduced as an ornamental pond plant in the 20th century but was still on sale in garden centres as recently as 2009. It’s easily identified by its rosette of large leathery green leaves and yellow hood-like flowers, which have a strong skunk odour, giving the plant its name.  It forms dense stands in wet, muddy areas surrounding ponds, streams and marshy woodlands, and can outcompete many of the sensitive native species growing in these habitats. It spreads by rhizomes and by seeds, which are carried by water, birds and animals. As American Skunk Cabbage often grows in sensitive habitats, such as alongside water courses, herbicide use can be limited due to its impact on native plants. It can be removed mechanically, but the marshy habitat it prefers can make it difficult for heavy equipment to access. The plant is also capable of regenerating from its rhizome network, so care needs to be taken when digging to ensure no rhizome fragments are missed. For more information on these and other invasive weeds, or to book a survey for your site our land, please visit our Invasive Weeds page.

Vicki joined ERS as an Environmental Science graduate in 2003, working in our Glasgow and Inverness offices and is now based in the Channel Islands. Over the last 20 years Vicki has grown to become a key member of ERS, managing numerous contaminated land projects from gas works to paper mills and shipyards. This has facilitated developments such as a Scottish Premier League football stadium, an Energy Centre for a Scottish University, and a mixed development on the River Clyde. Vicki’s been a great source of support and advice to her colleagues and we look forward to working with her for the next 20 years. Thanks Vicki!

This year, with the ongoing cost of living crisis, ERS has made the decision not to send cards and gifts to our clients. Instead, the equivalent money has been donated to various charities to support the vital work they are doing for our local community. The charities were nominated and voted for by our employees, with all receiving a share of the funds. Here is some more information on these charities and the vital work they do: East Dunbartonshire Foodbank Serving the communities of Kirkintilloch, Milngavie, Lennoxtown and Bishopbriggs - only a stones throw away from our Glasgow office, the East Dunbartonshire Foodbank has been a vital source of support for local people during the cost of living crisis. With many of our staff based in these nearby towns, it was the most up-voted charity of the nominations. To learn more about the work they do and to make a donation, visit their website https://eastdunbartonshire.foodbank.org.uk/ Jags for Good Run by Partick Thistle fans (of which there seems to be a few amongst our staff) Jags for Good is an initiative which supports social justice causes in the Jags' local community of Maryhill and across Glasgow. These include the Maryhill Integration Network and the Glasgow North West Foodbank. Learn more about the work these community-minded Jags fans do here bit.ly/3YUJUur Kipawa Trust International Kipawa Trust is a Scottish based charity which provides feeding programmes, health care and counselling services for children and their families living in poverty in Ruiru, Kenya. Learn more about the important work they do on their website https://www.kipawa.org.uk/ JDRF UK Type 1 Diabetes is a condition which affects 400,000 people across the UK. It is caused by the body's immune system mistakenly attacking insulin producing cells in the pancreas, and requires daily insulin injection. JDRF aims to fund more research into this life changing condition and support people post-diagnosis. To learn more about Type 1 Diabetes and the work JDRF does, visit their website https://jdrf.org.uk/ Cash for Kids Cash for Kids helps children affected by poverty, illness and neglect, as well as those with additional needs across the UK. They are a grant-giving organisation directing funding to local, grass-roots organisations based in affected communities. For more information on the grants and who they have supported so far, visit their website https://cashforkids.org.uk/ Shelter Scotland Shelter aims to support people struggling with bad housing, housing insecurity and homelessness. With the cost-of-living crisis hitting communities hard on top of the existing housing crisis, more than ever this winter, families are struggling to keep a warm, safe roof over their heads. You can support Shelter to provide housing advice and temporary accommodation for struggling individuals and families across Scotland by visiting their website https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/ Tommy's Tommy's is an pregnancy charity which aims to make the UK the safest place in the world to give birth. It supports parents through miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and also funds research into pregnancy issues and provides healthy pregnancy advice for mothers to be. You can learn more about the work they do and donate to their cause on their website https://www.tommys.org/ We'd like to thank our clients for their understanding and support during these unprecedented times, and also all our staff who nominated a charity and took part in the vote. And of course, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We look forward to working with you all again in 2023!

Our second post in the series on common contaminants will look at crude oil and refined petroleum products (e.g. diesel, gasoline, heating oils) The UK, like most of the world, has historically and continues to rely heavily on oil for its energy needs. Both historical and current day incidents involving oil and refined petroleum products cause small and major contamination events alike. What are hydrocarbons? As the name suggests, the compounds in hydrocarbons are predominantly made up of chains of carbon atoms linked to hydrogen atoms, although they can also contain chlorine, fluorine, sulphur etc. Crude oil and products refined from it like fuel oil, petrol, diesel and gas are all types of hydrocarbons. Similar to coal, they are formed when animal and plant matter was subject to high temperatures and pressures, deep within the earth, over millennia. Whilst much of the legacy and modern day contamination is due to fossil fuels, which will be our focus today, it's worth noting the emergence of new fuel sources, developed as a response to climate change. Examples are biofuels (derived from plant oils), bioethanol and biogas (created by degrading waste plant/animal products), and “synthetic fuels”, which are liquid fuels created from bio- or natural gas. How readily these are naturally degraded remains to be seen due to their rarity and they may present a remediation challenge for future generations. How can hydrocarbons be remediated? There are many techniques we use to remediate crude oil and refined petroleum products. The technique depends on the specific hydrocarbons present and the risks to humans and/or the environment. Where free product is present on-site, most treatment involves removal of this in the first instance, followed by one or more secondary treatment processes. Often they are used in combination to get better results. The one we most commonly use are: Soil bioremediation Pumped recovery of free product, with vacuum enhancement if appropriate Separation and treatment of recovered mixtures for cost effective disposal or re-use Dual phase vacuum extraction In-situ chemical remediation (ISCO) Soil flushing Domestic oil spill clean-up and remediation Forced ventilation of sub-floor and other vapour accumulation voids Some of our Hydrocarbon Remediation Projects: University of Glasgow We were involved for many years in University of Glasgow’s Campus Development Programme assisting contractor Mulitplex with various SI and remediation work. Much of the contamination on this site, some of it unexpected, was due to hydrocarbons. In total, we have treated over 5,500 tonnes of mostly hydrocarbon impacted soils and treated 80,000 litres of hydrocarbon impacted water. Read more here. New ALDI Supermarket In this project, our engineers designed and built a bespoke bioslurping remediation system. Unexpected contamination was discovered during the construction of a supermarket and offsite disposal was not possible. Our solution, requiring 36 wells to control the water table, expose the smear zone and enhance volatilisation of hydrocarbons, allowed construction and operation of the supermarket to take place around the ongoing remediation works. Read more here. Former Bitumen Refinery This site in Ayrshire was formerly a bitumen refinery and was heavily contaminated. In addition, being close to the coast meant tidal action had smeared the contamination over 2m. The impacted soil was excavated to allow groundwater treatment, then bioremediation. In all 30,000 m3 of soil was treated, of which 20,000m3 was able to be reused on site, giving significant materials costs savings. Read more here. HGV Depot This site was contaminated with fuel hydrocarbons from its former life as an HGV depot. In total, 1300 m3 of contaminated soil was excavated and treated by bioremediation in windrows. Read more here. Domestic Heating Oil Spill Around 1000 litres of heating oil were lost into the back garden of a property and was migrating towards the house. The contaminated area needed to be property delineated, then affected soils were removed and sent for disposal at suitable licenced facilities. This was then backfilled with clean material, and the fence, turf and gravel driveway re-instated for the homeowner's convenience. Read more here.

An important milestone has been reached in the development of the Scottish Marine Technology Park, with the appointment of ERS as remediation specialists by main contractor Malin Group. The proposed Scottish Marine Technology Park (SMTP) will provide a unique environment for world-leading innovators in the marine industry to co-locate and collaborate to reinvigorate the shipbuilding and renewable industries on the banks of the Clyde. Based on the banks of the River Clyde in Old Kilpatrick, the site consists of almost 50 acres of developable space which will have direct access to the deep-water channel via a deep-water quay with a heavy ship hoist. However, due to the site's former use as an oil terminal, before the main works get underway, contaminated soil and groundwater first needs to be remediated. ERS are happy to announce that we have been named as remediation contractor by the main contractor, Malin Group, and will short begin the first phase of remediation works required at the site to allow enabling works to go ahead as planned early next year. ERS’ Managing Director, Andrew Mackenzie, stated, “ERS has enjoyed developing this exciting and challenging project with Malin, their team and wider stakeholders. We now look forward to the start of site works and helping Malin Release the Value of their Land.” Malin Group are a family of specialist marine engineering companies, headquartered on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow, which provide end to end solutions to the global marine industry. Their fabrication facility in Renfrew is one of the biggest in Scotland, and includes a loadout quay for the delivery of larger structures by sea. The group employ over 120 people in Renfrew, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Following the start of remediation works, enabling works will commence early in 2023, beginning with quay design and reconstruction works, and the construction of an innovative and sustainable flood water storage pond, which when complete will be surrounded by a nature walkway, allowing access to the riverside for local residents. These works have been made possible by a £4m contributions from West Dunbartonshire Council and Clyde Mission. Kevin Waters, Principal Project Manager of the SMTP noted, “We are delighted to have ERS onboard, helping us move ahead with remediation of the site. With their commitment to using sustainable [remediation] methods, aligning with our vision for SMTP, we look forward to working with them on what is a major step forward in our plans for development of the SMTP.” Other ongoing works at the site include the recycling of demolition materials from local sites which will be used to form platforms for future development plots. Without this reuse, the materials may instead have ended in landfill, but instead will form a firm and fitting foundation for the future build. It is anticipated that completion of the remediation and enabling works, and subsequent utilities and infrastructure works, will help attract further investment required to realise the SMTP vision, bringing hundreds of new high-quality jobs to the local area. More information about the SMTP, the proposed works and how it will benefit the local area can be found here www.scottishmarinetechnologypark.com

In memory of our much loved friend and colleague, Steven Nisbet: Every day hundreds of people lose their lives to heart disease. Many could be saved if they had quicker access to defibrillators, and ERS staff are raising money to purchase units and make them available for community use. We were initially motivated to undertake a sponsored walk in memory of our friend and colleague, Steven Nisbet, who sadly passed away suddenly in July 2019. Stevie was much loved and respected by both his ERS work colleagues and clients alike. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the global Covid-19 pandemic and the introduction of social gathering restrictions forced us to cancel our original plans for a fundraiser and put all of our plans on hold for a couple of years. Since then, other colleagues and their friends and family have also been affected and in particular we wish Dougie Hoblyn a full and speedy recovery. This year, with Covid-19 restrictions finally wound down, we have revisited our plans for the fundraiser. Again, like our original plans, this will be centred around a sponsored walk on 10th September 2022 covering the second stage of the Great Trossachs Path: 11.75miles / 19km from Trossachs Pier to Callander. We are very much looking forward to the challenge! Our ambitious target is to purchase at least 2 defibrillators which will be registered on the national database and available for use by anyone who may require it. One will be kept in our office and the other will be placed in a convenient location for access by the local community. Anything over and above this would be donated to the British Heart Foundation. The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying each year from heart and circulatory disease in the UK. It's only thanks to support and donations that the BHF can create new treatments and discover new cures. We hope that our donation would go some way to supporting their important work. We would really appreciate any support you can give to help us achieve this. If you are able to contribute towards our fundraising target, please visit our Just Giving page. Your donation can really help us smash this goal!

Is ERS’ approach to ex-situ bioremediation sustainable from a direct CO2 emissions perspective? As reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry becomes an increasingly discussed topic, we decided it was time to turn our attention to pre-construction site works and soil remediation specifically. Nature based remediation techniques such as bioremediation – which use microorganisms to break down contaminants into less harmful forms – have long been assumed to be more environmentally friendly compared to other techniques, but is this assumption factually correct? And if so, exactly how much carbon can be saved? The reality is very little research has been done in this area, despite its increasing importance to the industry and the public. To address this, in February ERS started on a new internal research project looking at the CO2 emissions from our remediation activities. Specifically, we are looking to determine the CO2 emissions from ex-situ bioremediation and compare them to those of landfill disposal, i.e. Is ex-situ bioremediation more sustainable than landfill disposal based on direct CO2 emissions? In addition, by starting to measure CO2 emissions on our own remediation activities, we can start to identify areas where we can make reductions in our emissions. As well as helping to reduce our carbon footprint, implementing technology to reduce our emissions should also help to reduce our project fuel usage, as the majority of CO2 emissions are derived from mobile plant/ machinery onsite. This would also help reduce the impact of recent fuel price increases, plus the removal of tax relief on red diesel for the construction industry. To assist with the research and help engage the next generation, we created a student placement. Emmanuel Bello, who is currently studying a two year master’s in environmental management at Teesside University, worked on this project after responding to a social media campaign advertising the placement. With glowing references and training in CO2 footprint calculations from his masters, he was the perfect choice for this project. The placement was only 3 months in duration, however, we now have a functioning CO2 calculator which has enabled us to answer positively the question “Is ERS’ approach to ex-situ bioremediation sustainable from a direct CO2 emissions perspective?” and identify areas for improvement. Although Emmanuel’s placement has finished, we’re now deciding which aspects to take forward. A separate related laboratory-based student project has also started. News on that to follow!