Land remediation is an applied science. As an industry, much of what we do on site and in the laboratory at the commercial scale is underpinned by extensive research and development (R&D) in subjects such as chemistry, geology, soil mechanics, microbiology, environmental science and engineering, amongst others.
At Vertase FLI, we are proud to play our part in supporting R&D initiatives that serve to advance our industry and the services we can provide to our clients. Some of these initiatives are listed below:
- Since 2024, we have provided financial and technical support to a post-graduate student at Cranfield University via a CENTA (Central England NERC Training Alliance) studentship agreement to aid her pursuit of a doctorate in the mechanisms of plastic degradation and microplastic formation in landfills. This work has led to the production of several conference papers and journal article manuscripts. For more information, see Lindsey Selleck – CENTA
- Every year we offer placements to at least one MSc student to undertake their thesis on a live remediation project. In recent years, we have facilitated several MSc projects of exemplary quality, ranging from machine learning in risk assessment through to fluorocarbon fate and transport modelling in landfills, and a recent project on carbon counting. Many of these students have gone on to secure distinctions for their projects, reflecting both their hard work and the novelty of the topic.
- Through collaboration with the British Geological Survey (BGS), we have had the pleasure of supporting the European funded RAWFILL project on landfill mining (supporting-a-new-circular-economy-for-raw-materials-recovered-from-landfills | Interreg NWE), along with the research undertaken by several PhD students via participation in interviews to aid their data collection.
- We have invested significantly into the development of VertaVerse, an in-house bespoke digital database for the storage of data (both technical and operational). We envisage this tool to revolutionise and streamline our data handling, making us a more efficient business in every way. For more information, see Revolutionising Brownfield Remediation Tech with VertaVerse
- In collaboration with other industry professionals, VertaseFLI are keen to contribute to the production of best practice guidance documents. To that end, we are currently working with CIRIA to produce best practice guidance for redeveloping challenging sites focussing specifically on former landfills, tips and quarries. This guidance is expected to be published in late 2026.
In addition to the above, we regularly use our sites to trial innovative ideas, methods and technologies suggested by our suppliers, our subconsultants, and often by our own people. Afterall, land remediation sites are the ‘coal face’ of innovation.
Innovation is one of our core values. It is an important part of our company culture and we recognise that innovation cannot happen without investment into R&D.
