Abstract: Polluted material contained in, or lying on the ground is isolated, treated in situ and/or removed by(a) placing laterally closed, hollow piles in the soil according to a lattice pattern in adjoining relationship; said piles having closable top and bottom ends;(b) closing the top and bottom ends of the piles placed in the ground;(c) optionally passing a treating medium into the polluted material enclosed within a pile; and/or(d) removing the piles with the material enclosed therein from the soil and transporting them to a different location.A pile is disclosed for use in the method.