Non-Composted Municipal Solid Waste Processing Byproduct Effect on Soil Reclamation

ABSTRACT

A new garbage processing technology has been developed that sterilizes and separates inorganic and organic components of municipal solid waste. The non-composted byproduct of this process, Fluff®, has the potential to be utilized as a soil amendment to improve soil conditions in highly degraded soils. A study was initiated to evaluate Fluff as a soil amendment for establishing native grasses on disturbed US Army training lands. The Fluff was incorporated into a sandy loam soil at Fort Benning Military Reservation, GA on two sites: a moderately degraded and a highly degraded soil. The Fluff was incorporated at rates of 0, 18, 36, 72, and 143 Mg ha^{− 1} to assess the effects on soil properties for two growing seasons. The addition of Fluff improved available plant nutrients and soil pH levels at both sites. Also, Fluff reduced the level of soil bulk density and increased soil concentration of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Because no adverse environmental effects were detected and Fluff improved soil physical and nutrient conditions as well as improving perennial grass establishment with increasing application rates, land application of Fluff to degraded US Army training grounds could be considered a viable and beneficial alternative to current waste management practices.

Keywords::

• carbon
• municipal solid waste
• nitrogen
• plant nutrients
• soil restoration

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Jerry Carrington, Marlin Siegford, and Dr. Stephen Prior of the USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Lab for their expertise in data collection; and Pat Kemme of ERDC-CERL for her assistance in performing the initial sampling and analysis of the Fluff. This study was funded by the United States Army Office of the Directorate of Environmental Programs (DAIM), Assistant Chief of Staff (Installation Management); U.S. Army Forces Command; and Congressional Plus Up.

Notes

¹Names are necessary to report factually on available data: however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the production; the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

^†Values represent means of 4 replications.

^†Values represent means of 4 replications.

^†Values represent means of 4 replication from composited soil samples taken from each plot.

^†Values represent means of 4 replication from composited soil samples taken from each plot.