Olympic Park soil cleaned by tiny bugs

Bacteria, fungi and other microbes will completely clean the soil so it can be reused elsewhere on the Park. The process does not generate any waste, significantly reducing the amount of material being taken to landfill sites.

The tiny bugs eat away pollutants such as petrol and oil left in the soil after years of industrial work in the area. Warm air, nutrients and water vapour are all pumped through soil containing the bugs to help speed up the ‘cleaning’ process.

Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive David Higgins said: ‘Cleaning up the Park is incredibly challenging. We are on track to clean and clear most of the site by the Beijing 2008 Games and meet our sustainability commitments.

‘By utilising the latest technology we are transforming land contaminated by decades of industrial use and neglect into an area fit for world-class sporting venues, a new urban park and the development of new communities.’

Read the full media release