Organic amendments for remediation: Putting waste to good use

The incorporation of common organic wastes (e.g. compost, biosolids, recycled paper waste) into soil promotes contaminant removal and stabilization, and diverts waste from landfill or incineration. However, implementation is constrained by public perception, timescale, cost and the pollutant burden of the organic waste itself. In addition, the high nutrient content of most organic wastes can lead to low biodiversity value at restoration sites. These potential negative aspects are now being countered by the mixing of waste streams, thus providing a multifunctional solution to land remediation where pollutant removal is not the only long-term goal.