In Buggenhout, right next to the Schelde, the site of the former ALVAT factory, with a surface of 4.6 hectares, is located. Until 1995, barrels were cleaned and prepared for reuse here, resulting in soil pollution. At the end of 2019, OVAM acquired the site for 1 symbolic euro.

ABESIM supports OVAM in the management of sites they own, such as the ALVAT site. Given the poor condition of the buildings and the general presence of asbestos cement, it was decided to demolish the buildings as soon as possible. ABESIM made a demolition inventory and supported OVAM with the application for the environmental permit. The demolition works themselves are also monitored by ABESIM.

On April 1, 2021, the demolition works were started with the demolition of the 35 m high chimney that typified the site.

Also view the reportages from TV Oost and Kanaal Z:

https://www.tvoost.be/nieuws/ovam-start-na-28-jaar-met-sanering-zwaar-ve...

https://kanaalz.knack.be/nieuws/ovam-start-de-sloop-en-sanenering-van-de...