In this paper, two major remediation projects located in the German Ruhr District will be introduced. The key to an effective land re-utilization plan is a harmonized management of ground investigation, risk assessment and clean-up strategies. Geotechnical and hydrogeological techniques, as well as economical risks involved in the recycling of industrial wasteland will be discussed. Criteria which led to the acceptance of certain remediation techniques will be reflected and their validity will be examined. It will be analyzed whether the projected performance objectives have been met and the demands of both, the investors and the environmental protection agencies have been satisfied. Special attention will be paid to the cost-effectiveness of the remediation strategies proposed
