[CPEO-BIF] Growing biofuels on brownfields

["Robert Hersh" <b_hersh@verizon.net>]

Edie News Center
London, UK
4/24/07

Willow grown on former landfill sites will help test the viability of using
contaminated brownfield land for biofuel production, as part of a pilot
project launched by WRAP this week.

The scheme will see the soil of two former landfill sites in North East
England enriched with compost made from garden waste and used to grow short
rotation coppice willow that will then serve as biofuel for local use.

Dr Eric Evans of Land Remediation Services said: "We specified green waste
compost for the project as it is the best form of organic matter to restore
the poor quality soils with respect to improving water retention and
nutrient levels.

"This makes it suitable for planting short rotation coppice willow for
biofuel production."

The Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) launched the scheme to test
the cost-effectiveness of using low value brownfield sites like former
landfills to grow biofuels. Health and safety regulations rule out the use
of former rubbish dumps for agriculture, and they are seen to have great
potential as low-cost land for biofuel production.


For the entire article, see:
http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=12940&channel=0

Bob Hersh
CPEO



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