The National Danish Environmental Protection Agency - Project M226-0057 Ecological Handling of Human Urine, Human Feces and Greywater in Allotment Gardens using Dry Diverting Toilets and Zero Discharge Willow Wastewater Evapotranspiration Systems.

1. Hyphen 32 | 2003
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Employment and environment
City initiatives to create green jobs,
the case of Göteborg, Sweden
Environmental issues have been
most important in our city over the last
decades. Göteborg used to have a re-
putation for being one of the most pol-
luted cities in the country, but that has
changed considerably today. In this
article, I will concentrate on three fac-
tors, proven crucial for urban environ-
mental improvement and creating
green jobs in our city: energy con-
sumption, transportation and recy-
cling of material.
Energy consumption
Heating is of course very important
in a Nordic climate, like ours. In the
early 1970s, Göteborg was still highly
dependent on oil for heating of buil-
dings. The oil crises, combined with
the growing concern on environ-
mental matters, made the city authori-
ties decide to radically reduce the use
of oil and to enlarge the system for
district heating. This took some years,
but was consequently achieved. Now
we can see the results. Consumption
of oil for heating has been reduced by
more than 95 %. The district heating
has expanded and is now also used
for areas with only single-family hou-
ses.
What do we use instead of oil?
Mostly wasted energy from the pro-
cesses in the oil refineries, which are
located in the city. We have long-term
agreements with the companies who
run the refineries to use their hot wa-
ter, which has been used for cooling
in the processes.
We use electric heating-pumps at
the wastewater cleaning station,
where we absorb some energy from
the wastewater, before it gets
pumped back into the river after
cleaning.
By burning household waste that
cannot be recycled, we recuperate
energy for the district heating. Wind
energy is also used to generate elec-
tricity.
Transportation
This is of course vital for an urban
region. We try to reduce the use of
private cars in the city, mainly by
improving public transport. This is
now coordinated within the region of
western Sweden. Decisions for big
investments have been made to
extend the tramway system and new
tunnels and tramlines will be built in
the years to come.
Improving the efficiency of existing
infrastructure is crucial. We use
information technology for this. At the
tram stops our telematic information
system displays details on when the
next tram is expected. This
information is also available over the
Internet. The number of unoccupied
parking spaces in the main car parks
is digitally monitored and displayed
by the side of entrance routes to the
city centre.
Recycling is the determinant sector for the creation of “green jobs”
Jörgen LINDER
Lord Mayor of Göteborg
15

2. Hyphen 32 | 2003
EUROPARAT
In general, we have a smoothly
functioning system for public trans-
port. I myself have got rid of my car
and now travel mainly by bus or tram.
It works sufficiently for me, even if it
might seem somewhat disloyal for a
mayor in the “City of Volvo” not to
drive a car.
Recycling
This is a most significant sector,
especially when it comes to creating
“green jobs”. Nowadays household
waste is being separated into paper,
glass, metal, plastic and compostable
goods. This is supported by the
municipal fees; it is more expensive
to dispose of waste if it is not sorted.In
car industries such as Volvo, recy-
cling is of considerable importance.
Most parts in a new car can be re-
cycled and recycling is common in the
construction of houses.
To summarise, I think that the Gö-
teborg experience shows that it is
possible– and necessary – to take
steps to create green jobs increase
recycling and reduce pollution. It
takes time, but it works.
Article published in the
review NATUROPA no.92
Employment-environment synchronisation
The case of Hungary
Today, employment and environment
policy still does not function in a com-
pletely synchronised manner in Hungary.
This fact is no surprise. On the one
hand, a requirement of synchronisation
of employment and environment is rela-
tively new. On the other, having just
changed their political systems, eastern
and central European countries have
given priority to integrating environment
and economy policy in the last few years,
in order to establish a modern way of
environment protection.
An integrated approach
During the past ten years, Hungary
– like several other central and eastern
European countries – has worked on
preventive economic and sectoral
integration tools in addition to traditional
environment policies. This approach also
characterises the new environment
protection Act passed in 1995 and the
National Environmental Programme
presently in force adopted by the
Parliament in 1997. The government did
not only choose this approach because
of the radical economic transformation
going on in the country but also because
of the requirements of the targeted Euro-
Atlantic integration (to join OECD, NATO,
EU). When Hungary joined OECD,
environmental performance of the
country was examined – surprising
novelty for many at that time – in addition
to economic topics but a common
examination of environment protection
and employment was not thought of.
Reduction of regional inequalities
There is still an indirect relationship
between employment and environment
policies in Hungary. This relationship
can be found in Chapter 3 “Key fields
of implementation” of the National Envi-
ronmental Programme. The programme
gives a priority to the synchronisation
of environment protection and regional
development over the programmes con-
cerning highlighted sectors.
In the future it seems reasonable to
integrate aspects of employment in the
National Environmental Programme mo-
re directly and more efficiently and simi-
larly, the points of view of environment
protection should also be integrated in
the Employment Strategy.
High unemployment
Unfortunately, complicated environ-
ment and nature protection issues do
not occur in the present approach of
employment policy, except for issues of
public health. Such essential rela-
tionships could include, for instance,
employment issues related to forms of
traditional family and small community
management of the environment, or the
favoured managements of the environ-
ment, or the favoured management and
support of the capability of provincial
settlements and small regions to keep
their inhabitants, and complex ways of
landscape management. These topics
should be examined as the number of
people employed has fallen during the
past ten years from 5,3 million to
16
András R. CSANADY
Environment policy planner
Department of Strategic Planning
Ministry for Environment, Budapest

3. Hyphen 32 | 2003
3,8 million, i. e. from 50 % of the popu-
lation to 38 % thereof, so the informal
sector probably continues to have an
important role. The environment industry,
according to the definition by OECD,
has between 20 000 and 30 000 em-
ployees in Hungary.
Future investment
Realisation of harmonisation tasks
of environment policy required by the
European Union will supposedly have
a direct positive impact on employment
in Hungary. This supposition is based
on the fact that, given the particular
situation of the country, an additional
enhancement of the number of people
employed is required in the field of en-
vironment protection, both for solving
the problems (management of sewage-
water and waste, air-pollution in cities,
lack of capacity of organisations applying
and executing the law) and for profiting
from existing benefits (small environ-
mental load per person, good indicators
in the field of nature conservation and
biodiversity). The future of employment
in the field of environment protection
will primarily be determined by the
available capital and the quantity of
financial resources.
Article published in the review
NATUROPA no. 92/2000
The protection of the environment and of the landscape has to be taken into consideration by the employment policies
Pollution in town - a problem that can be solved by harmonizing the environment policies.
17

4. Hyphen 32 | 2003
Denmark
Ecological sanitation - sustainable sanitation
in allotment gardens in Denmark, part 2
Diversion
The function concerning diversion of
the urine to the urine collecting system
was only reported inconvenient for two
women. Though it was reported that 11
women had to get acquainted with and
adjusted to the system in order to
achieve a good diverting functioning.
Men and children at the age of seven
or older had no problems. Experiences
from children under the age of seven
were varied. 5 out of 24 children had
problems to divert properly. The 5
children were: a 15-month-old boy, three
girls of three and a half, four and five
years and a child at the age of six with
unspecified sex. 7 children at the age
of 5 or less managed fine. A special
child seat can be used on 3 of the
models.
Cleaning, noise, smell and flies
Three out of 77 users only reported
cleaning of the toilets as slightly difficult
or difficult. The rest of the participants
found cleaning to be trouble free.
Regarding problems with noise, only
one participant could occasionally hear
an irritating sound from a 19 W fan.
Nobody with fans had problems with
smell in the toilet room. Some users
without fans could have some smell
problems, but not enough to make them
install a ventilation system. Toilets
without fans were only installed in
outhouses with natural ventilation. Two
users had had big problems with flies,
but the problems had been solved by
means of continuous running of the fan,
as prescribed in the manual and by use
of a fly net at the end of the ventilation
system and on the inlet to the urine
container.
Handling of urine and faeces
Reported experiences with the
handling of urine and faeces showed
no problems concerning urine and 76
characterised emptying of the faeces
container as unproblematic. One
participant found the smell unpleasant
but acceptable. The frequencies of
emptying the faeces container were
reported for the different models. The
frequencies were from every third to
sixth day to once a season depending
Ivan LARSEN, Chairman of the Danish Allotment Garden Association,
Arne BACKLUND, Project manager, Director of A & B BACKLUND ApS
Big success with no-mix toilets without water flush
18
INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

5. Hyphen 32 | 2003
on toilet model, size of the household
and use of the toilet.
Overall impression
Generally the interviewed participants
characterised the impression of the toilet
system as positive or very positive.
Reactions from visitors
49 participants have had positive or
very positive reactions from guests,
neighbours or others. Three participants
had had negative reactions.
Suggested improvements
The participants were engaged in the
project and on request 26 participants
proposed amendments, 9 participants
with sitting heights of 50 cm or more,
wished for lower sitting height.
Willow evapotranspiration bed without
outlet for grey water
As a part of the project a willow
evapotranspiration bed after a new con-
cept developed by A & B Backlund ApS
has been constructed. Grey water from
10 allotment gardens are evapotrans-
pirated from a common bed. Each indi-
vidual garden could also have been
equipped with its own bed. The system
almost only evaporates grey water as
rainwater is discharged from the surface
by means of a plastic folio. The system
is ideal for allotment gardens. Only few
m2 are needed for an allotment garden
with limited water demand limited to the
growing season. The experiences will
be gathered and reported later.
Conclusions
Diverting/no-mixing toilets were
installed in 89 allotment gardens in the
municipalities of Ballerup, Herlev and
Slagelse and experiences could be
collected from 81 gardens. The purpose
was to allow the users to evaluate the
system regarding installation, diverting,
usage, cleaning, emptying, and possible
inconveniences. A wide representative
section of the inhabitant regarding age
has participated in the tests. The users
were very positive and had only very
few problems; all of them were solved
during the project. Installation, cleaning
and emptying of the toilets were
considered easy to manage.
The daily use of the toilets was
without problems, but some women
found it difficult to hit the urine bowl.
After a period of training, only two
women still had problems. Incon-
veniences like flies, noises and smells
were minimal and the users solved the
few problems themselves.
The collected urine was very concen-
trated due to limited use of water. At the
same time the concentrations of heavy
metals and organic compounds were
far under the limit values given in the
sludge directive. The collected urine is
well suited as a fertiliser. In the analysis
of the collected urine mixture no bacterial
or parasitic infectious microorganisms
were found. Usage of stored human
urine, as a fertiliser, seems to involve a
very small risk for bacterial related sto-
mach intestinal infections to animals
and human beings by handling of human
urine and by consumption of crops fer-
tilised with human urine.
The test of diverting/no-mixing
toilets in the allotment gardens has been
a great success and the systems are
excellent alternatives to traditional sys-
tems. The advantages by establishing
diverting toilets to solutions with sewers
are among others water savings and
recycling of nutrients. Furthermore there
are considerable economical advan-
tages for the allotment gardens, com-
pared to installation of much more
expensive solutions with sewers. The
results from the microbiological analysis
indicate that the urine can be used as
a fertiliser in the garden instead of being
dug down. Established together with
willow evapotranspiration beds a well
functioning complete solution to black
as well as to grey wastewater can be
established in allotment gardens.
Further development
The participants in the project have
contributed with suggestions to improve-
ments regarding design and functioning.
The communication between users,
designers and producers is of great
importance for the development of
products as well as for the use of them.
The newly developed toilette "Separett
Villa 9000" is shown below.
Implementation
The collected experiences should be
of interest for investigations and invest-
ments in toilet- and wastewater-solutions
for a range of allotment gardens etc. in
many countries. For the developing
countries it is of big importance to im-
prove the sanitary conditions. Diverting
dry toilets are of interest not only by
establishing or modernizing sanitary
installations in rural areas. The described
solutions and collected experiences
would also be of interest for an establish-
ment of sustainable food producing al-
lotment garden association situated near
to the city.The existing allotment gardens
could function as a source of inspiration
for the modernization in developing
countries.
visibility screen
child seat
WC mechanism
19
INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

6. Hyphen 32 | 2003
INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS
Further informations
The project has been presented at
several conferences and will also be
presented at the 2nd International
Ecosan-Symposium 7. - 11. April 2003
in Lübeck, Germany.
Many experiences were collected in
this and seven further national and
international projects. The project partner
of the Danish Allotment Garden
Association, A & B Backlund ApS can
supply further information. The project
manager can also due to experiences
from implementing sanitary systems in
many countries assist the local allotment
garden association with advice, work
shops, reference visits and applications.
Ivan Larsen, Chairman of the Danish
Allotment Garden Association
Frederikssundsvej 304 A, DK-2700
Broenshoej, Denmark
Tel.: +45 38288750 Fax.: +45 38288350
E-mail: info@kolonihave.dk
Internet: www.kolonihave.dk
Arne Backlund, Project manager, Direc-
tor of A & B BACKLUND ApS
Ordrupvej 101, DK-2920 Charlottenlund,
Denmark
Tel.: +45 39633364 Fax.: +45 39636455
E-mail: backlund@backlund.dk
Internet: www.backlund.backlund.dk
"The thinker" by Lotte Hilden, Copyright A & B Backlund Aps
20

7. Hyphen 32 | 2003
LUXEMBOURG
Charter for voluntary work
Background
Voluntary work in its many forms has
long been a factor contributing to im-
provement of the quality of life in Luxem-
bourg and a means of achieving social
integration. It underlines the creation of
many associations of diverse kinds ope-
rating for the benefit of the community.
However, it took the advent of the
international Year of Volunteers to bring
about wider cooperation in the field of
voluntary work in Luxembourg society.
One of the positive aspects of voluntary
work is its diversity. However, such diver-
sity can also give the impression of
complexity and thus make it difficult to
apprehend the full meaning of the term
"voluntary work". That is why organi-
sations engaged in voluntary work are
endeavouring jointly to identify shared
principles, which define the nature of
voluntary commitment and the condi-
tions under which those principles should
be applied.
Even though not all organisations
display all the features needed to bring
them within its scope, this charter can
still provide guidance and facilitate a
better understanding of the term "volun-
tary work".
Definition
A volunteer is someone who, entirely
of his own volition and without any mone-
tary payment, engages in an activity for
the benefit of a third party or the commu-
nity as a whole.
Voluntary work is a commitment
entered into freely and free of charge
by people who take action, for others
or in the public interest, in a manner,
which goes beyond mere mutual aid
within the family or between friends.
Role
Voluntary commitment is a means of
ensuring development in our society. It
holds a specific place in the civil society,
complementing rather than competing
with paid work. It makes its contribution
by fostering renewal, providing additional
support or encouraging innovation.
Fundamental principles of voluntary
work
Voluntary work is undertaken volun-
tarily and is prompted by personal moti-
vation and choices
The various forms of voluntary work
must be accessible to anyone, regard-
Traditional welcome of the guests in the allotment garden site “SZZ Senica Kunov I“
21
INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

8. Hyphen 32 | 2003
less of their sex, age, nationality, race,
philosophical or religious preferences,
physical condition, social status and
financial position
Voluntary work is carried out in an
ethical and humanitarian manner and
with respect for human dignity
Voluntary work is heedful of the needs
of society and encourages the commu-
nity to help respond to such needs
Voluntary work promotes initiative,
creativity and a spirit of responsibility,
as well as social integration and partici-
pation.
Practical Guide to Voluntary work
A voluntary association shall be con-
cerned and careful to ensure that it:
wholeheartedly welcomes any
volunteer as a member of the team
gives him or her clear information
about the association and its objectives
and how it operates
entrusts volunteers with activities that
are in keeping with their skills, availability
and priorities
ensures that there is no encroach-
ment upon the clearly defined tasks
entrusted to each person
makes certain that the volunteer is
able to perform his duties in an appro-
priate environment
provides volunteers with adequate
supervision and, if appropriate, offers
them training
provides adequate insurance for
volunteers
reimburses the incurred expenses in
situations where it is necessary to enable
everyone to be in a position to make a
commitment to voluntary work.
The volunteer shall take care to:
accept the principles of the asso-
ciation and act in keeping with its objec-
tives
ensure that they are committed, in a
spirit of solidarity, to the development
of the association
accept guidance for the tasks to be
performed and follow the training cour-
ses offered
accomplish satisfactorily the tasks
jointly agreed upon
work in a spirit of mutual under-
standing with other volunteers and
employees
observe strict confidentiality in the
performance of their duties and comply
with the association’s code of guidelines
Outlook
As a manifestation of the wish to help
others, voluntary work is not just a way
of connecting with people but is also an
act of solidarity.This form of active
citizenship is based on a policy of
developing human resources and often
operates as a forward-looking,
progressive and innovative force in our
society.
The present charter was approved
by the executive board and the Luxem-
bourg organization committee for the
international Year of Volunteers
The acceptation of a benevolent activity is a voluntary decision The presidency of the Office during its benevolent mission
22
INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

9. Hyphen 32 | 2003
Sweden
"Improve the soil and the ambiance" -
an EU-project carried out with allotment
gardeners in Fittja
By the end of the season in 2002, 64
of the plotholders in Fittja in Stockholm
had started a compost of their own.
They had also been given practical in-
formation and guidance about how to
feed soil and plants – and as usual they
had harvested lots of vegetables, fruits
and berries. A new aspect to their gar-
dening was that the information about
composting and manuring had been
translated into their own languages.
For almost a year the gardeners in
Fittja had taken part in the EU-project
“Improve the Soil”. The purpose was to
make all of them take care of their plot
with as much regard as possible to the
environment.
In many allotment areas people of
many nationalities meet because of their
common interest in gardening. The di-
versity makes a colourful contribution
and creates possibilities of both ex-
changing experiences and of being in-
fluenced by others. With diversity follows
difficulties that have to be overcome;
language-problems, the opinion about
what is good gardening practice for the
soil, but also difficulties to alter esta-
blished gardening habits.
Fittja Allotment Society is one among
several others who felt the need to do
something about their environment. A
couple of years ago they took part in
the first soil-improvement project inclu-
ding soil-analyses, information and docu-
mentation with the goal to improve the
environment in Fittja.
The participants of that project found,
that time was too short meaning a risk
that the good examples would come to
nothing. It was urgent to take advantage
of a good start, to continue working with
the soil and cultivations but also to create
better relations between the gardeners,
not least through information in more
languages.
With Gun-Britt Blom, one of the
board-members of Fittja, as project lea-
der the society applied for EU-subsidy
to be able to work practically with gar-
dening and environmental questions.
Soon the answer arrived that their asso-
ciation was granted 34.000 SEK in EU-
subsidy. With a great support from the
gardening advisor Solveig Sidblad from
the national federation, Gun-Britt and
her collaborators immediately started
the preparations for the spring season
and the start of the project.
They prepared the start of the season
by arranging an educational show-
garden with 5 beds manured in different
ways: cow manure, Binadan (from
chicken), double digging, green manure
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
...and the fellowship
Ingrid NORDBALL
Gun-Britt BLOM
23
To improve the soil...
INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

10. Hyphen 32 | 2003
and a compost-heap to show good
examples.
On this plot the following vegetables
were cultivated: onion, carrot, cucumber,
spinach, radish, beans and swedes.
The participants of the project were
also offered to try green manure and
Binadan on their own plot. The project
leader Gun-Britt Blom, who wrote a diary
during the whole season of 2002, states
that the need of good ecological practise
is essential for the plotholders in Fittja.
Therefore most of the material used for
information and education was trans-
lated into Spanish, Arabic and Chinese
and distributed to the members: invi-
tation to the project, inquiry, “the good
soil”, “More composting” and the eva-
luation of the first year.
Rapidly many of the plotholders had
realized the meaning of growing organic
and had started to think more about how
to manure and compost. During the
project there was of course some resis-
tance to composting, people think it
smells bad. This was easily solved by
adding some bark mould which removes
the smell.
Another result is that beginning with
the project the plotholders in the area
relate much better to each other now
than before. That was shown not least
by the great interest to take part in the
project and the end of the season reu-
nion that was attended by 70 people.
But one year is not enough to confirm
good practise. Consequently the project
was planned for two years. Gun-Britt
means that crucial for the future in allot-
ment areas with many nationalities and
gardening cultures is the access to infor-
mation based on facts and which is easy
to understand in their own languages.
Everything takes time, which also can
be seen from the diary notes below.
Extract from the diary:
November 1, 2001 - application to
ESF, European Social Fund
February 27, 2002 – positive decision
about the grant to Fittja Allotment Asso-
ciation
Mars 22nd– Day of information by
ESF
April – invitation to members in Spa-
nish, Chinese and Arabic. Planning to-
gether with the gardening advisor. The
showing plot is “cleaned” – from gar-
bage, weeds and sick black currant
bushes. The hedge is cut.
May – purchase of seeds, fleece,
manure, bark mould etc. Digging part
of the showing plot. The beds are pre-
pared for information about five different
kinds of manure. Ground elder covered
with black plastic.
May 25th – First day of education 40
persons (24 men, 16 women). Introduc-
tion of the 5 methods of manure and
information about how to test one’s own
soil. Translated questionnaire distributed
to all participants about their own soil
and growing as the basis for improve-
ment. Distribution of Binadan.
June 1st– Second day of education:
composting. 25 members. The manure
Binadan is now tested by many mem-
bers.
June 5th – +30° C! The brochure about
composting is distributed. Information
about pH-value and measuring pH-value
at the plots begins. A good occasion to
discuss and talk more about soil-
improvement. At the end of June 40%
of the members have a compost of their
own and 30 members have received
their pH-value accompanied by good
advice regarding the treatment of the
soil.
July – the measuring is proceeding.
62 members take part in the project, 24
women, 38 men. PH- value changes
between 4,2 and 7. Survey of soil ana-
lysis from 5 plots. Compost day – 15
participants. Filling the new compost
bin, looking at the manure beds, testing
the harvested radishes.
August – the last day of education;
mainly composting but also inspection
and harvesting of vegetables on manure
beds. A member served stuffed chard
rolls, rice and vegetables. 4 compost
bins have been built and be will be
distributed.Almost 50 % of the members
have composts of their own. All
members have been provided with the
written information sheets about “The
good soil” and “More compost”.
September – Final feast with 70 par-
ticipants. Food, evaluation of this sea-
son, slideshow and Spanish singers.
To be continued.
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INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

11. Hyphen 32 | 2003
Switzerland
Behavior with soil pollution in urban
leisure garden sites
Preliminary remarks
During its campaign on soil analyses
the International Office aimed at
sensitising the leisure gardeners to
cultivate healthy vegetables and at the
same time to reduce the pollution of
nature and to save money. The main
aim was to change the personal
behaviour of the allotment gardener and
to eliminate for example while using
fertilizers the praxis: “a bit more is always
better”.
This campaign did voluntarily not
touch the problem of heavy metals, with
which the allotment gardeners are con-
fronted. All federations have however
to face it and so this subject, will certainly
be dealt with in the coming years. Here
an example from Zurich.
Malou WEIRICH
Example of Zurich
Astudy will be made, during the sum-
mer and winter term 2003 – 2004, by
students of the superior school for nature
sciences and environment of Zurich
(ETH Zurich). This study will concentrate
on the subject of the leisure gardens in
Zurich as place of food selfsuppliance,
leisure time and fellowship, soil cultiva-
tion and soil fertility as well as the risks
for human health.
After the adoption of federal guide-
lines for the soil protection, in particular
the authorized limit values of the soil at
the occasion of its checking and im-
provement, the cantons and communes
were forced to put them into practice. If
the values found are higher as the au-
thorized limits (for lead f. ex. the maximal
value in the gardens is 1000 PPM) an
improvement of the soil is necessary
and a prohibition to use the vegetables
is stipulated.
In the area of agriculture the maximal
value for lead is situated around 2000
PPM. Why has the confederation stipu-
lated more strict values for leisure gar-
dens? The reason is that in opposition
to cultivated fields there are children in
the leisure gardens and one has to pro-
tect them.
In Zurich are approximately 7000
gardens. 6117 of them are occupied by
members of the local leisure garden
associations. The gardens are the green
oasis of our towns. During their leisure
time 6117 persons relax there with their
families and friends (representing
approximately 30000 persons). Their
children have in this way a privileged
Renate FÄSSLER,
Central president of the leisure
garden associations in Zurich
25
INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

12. Hyphen 32 | 2003
contact with nature.The social aspect
has not either to be neglected. The
integration is an important factor and is
lived every day. This aspect is not a
pure theoretical one.Every leisure
gardener hopes to get healthy
vegetables, fruit and berries.
Unfortunately we find a certain insecurity
as far as the salubrity of the soil is
concerned. The happiness has been
destroyed.
This study has to be put in rela-
tionship with the different soil analyses
that have been made in the past. In
1994 for example the soil of 125 garden
plots has been analyzed in Zurich. One
could acknowledge that three plots
showed an important pollution as far as
heavy metals especially lead were con-
cerned.
One found as well an organic pollution
(for example with PAK) and pesticides
(for example DDT the use of which has
been forbidden since many years). The
presence of this last substance is for us
not understandable especially because
it is stipulated in our regulation that the
members have to garden in a nature
friendly way.
Because of the diversity of our soils
it is of course difficult to make a clear
inventory of the soils as far as the degree
of pollution is concerned and to judge
the possible dangers of such a situation.
New checkings have been ordered to-
gether with the town of Zurich and our
association and have shown that the
pollution at this specific place has been
reduced.
The ETH of Zurich deals with the
subject: “How to improve polluted soils
in the leisure gardens”? The students
of the Institute for soil ecology (ITÖ) of
the school for environmental sciences
and for biological engineering have to
deal with these questions during the two
next terms under the direction of Prof.
Rainer SCHÜLIN and Ruben
KRETZMAR in tight liaison with our
association. One of the aims of this
study could be for example to elaborate
solutions for the soil protection, to set
up alternatives, to evaluate different
solutions and to constitute in this way
a data basis, that one could interprete.
We expect as well the formulation of
judicial terms for the practical application
of these measures, which however have
not to harm the culture and the history
of our gardens.
We are impatient to read the results
of this study. In autumn 2003 the first
proposals could perhaps already be
formulated. The second part of the report
on the study made by the ETH promises
to be very interesting.
Article published in the Swiss leisure
garden federation review no. 3/2003
To be followed.
Heavy metals ...
...can endanger the use of the allotment garden
26
INFORMATIONS FROM THE FEDERATIONS

13. Hyphen 32 | 2003
ADDRESSES OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATIONS
Nationaal Verbond van
Volkstuinen vzw/Ligue
Nationale du Coin de Terre et
du Foyer-Jardins Populaires
ASBL
Belgium legal domicile:
Vogelmarkt 11
B -9000 GENT
secretary's office:
c/o L. Van Bellegham
Oudburgweg 6
B-9830 St. Martens-Latem
Tel.: 09/329 85 22
Fax: 09/329 85 22
E-mail: n.ghesquiere@pi.be
27
Austria Zentralverband der
Kleingärtner, Siedler
und Kleintierzüchter Österreichs
Getreidemarkt 11/10
A - 1060 WIEN
Tel.: 1-587 07 85
Fax: 1-587 07 85 30
E-mail: zvwien@chello.at
Czechia Ceský Zahrádkárský Svaz Ústredí Rokycanova 15
CZ-130 00 PRAHA 3 - Zizkov
Tel.: 2-22782710
Fax: 2-22782711
E-mail: zahradkari@vol.cz
Denmark Kolonihaveforbundet for
Denmark
Frederikssundsvej 304 A
DK - 2700 BRONSHOJ
Tel.: 3828 8750
Fax: 3828 8350
E-mail: info@kolonihave.dk
Finland Suomen Siirtolapuutarhaliitto ry Pengerkatu 9 B 39
SF - 00530 HELSINKI
Tel.: 9-763 155
Fax: 9-763 125
E-mail: sgarden@siirtolapuutarhaliitto.fi
France Ligue Francaise du Coin
de Terre et du Foyer/ Fédération
Nationale des Jardins Familiaux
11, rue Desprez
F - 75014 PARIS
Tel.: 1-45 40 40 45
Fax: 1-45 40 78 90
E-mail: c.denis@jardins-familiaux.asso.fr
Germany Bundesverband Deutscher
Gartenfreunde e. V.
Platanenallee 37
D - 14050 BERLIN
Tel.: 030/30 20 71-40/-41
Fax: 030/30 20 71 39
E-mail: bdg@kleingarten-bund.de
Great Britain The National Society of
Allotment and Leisure
Gardeners Ltd.
O'Dell House/Hunters Road
GB - CORBY,
Northants NN17 5JE
Tel.: 01536 266576
Fax: 01536 264509
E-mail: natsoc@nsalg.org.uk
Luxembourg Ligue Luxembourgeoise
du Coin de Terre et du Foyer
97, rue de Bonnevoie
L - 1260 LUXEMBOURG
Tel.: 48 01 99
Fax: 40 97 98
E-mail: liguectf@pt.lu
Netherlands Algemeen Verbond van
Volkstuinders Verenigingen
in Nederland
PO-Box 9094
NL - 3506 GB UTRECHT
Tel.: 0031/346 561612
Fax: 0031-346 56 40 92
E-mail: info@avvn.nl
Norway Norsk Kolonihageforbund Gronlandsleiret 23
N - 0190 OSLO
Tel.: 22-17 23 71
Fax: 22-17 33 71
E-mail: forbundet@Kolonihager.no
Poland Polski Zwiazek Dzialkowów Krajowa Rada
ul. Grzybowska 4
PL - 00-131 WARSZAWA
Tel.: 22-6546232
Fax: 22-6206112
E-mail: krpzd@dzialkowiec.com.pl
Sweden Svenska Förbundet för
Koloniträdgardar och
Fritidsbyar
Åsögatan 149
S - 116 32 STOCKHOLM
Tel.: 8-74 30 090
Fax: 86 40 38 98
E-mail: leif.thorin@koloni.org
Switzerland Schweizer Familiengärtnerverband Sekretariat:
z. Hd. von Frau Ruth STEINER
St. Georgenstra. 71a
CH - 9000 St. GALLEN
Tel.: 41 71 222 98 26
Fax: 41 61 31 13 10 3
E-mail: ruth.steiner@dtc.ch
Slovakia Slovenský Zväz Záhradkárov
Republikový Výbor
Havlickova 34
SK - 817 02 BRATISLAVA
Tel.: 2-54 77 54 22
Fax: 2-54 77 77 64

14. Hyphen 32 | 2003
editor: Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux a.s.b.l.
20, rue de Bragance, L - 1255 Luxembourg
date: October 2003
concept and realisation: Bundesverband Deutscher Gartenfreunde e.V.
editorship: Malou Weirich, Office International
layout/ Ddtp: Thomas Wagner, BDG
source of pictures: Thomas Wagner, BDG; pages 19, 20 (Bild 1): Larsen/ Backlund; page
4 (picture 1): Weirich; page 4 (pictures 2, 3), 5: Müller
the Office online: www.jardins-familiaux.org
28