Thaindian News

Sydney, Oct 5 (IANS) Millions of tonnes of waste generated by power stations, mineral processing plants and municipalities can be re-used to create fertility, health, wealth and beauty, a new study says.
“A major thrust of our work is to transform industrial and municipal wastes … into an environmentally friendly opportunity to make viable and marketable products,” said Richard Haynes, professor at the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and University of Queensland.

“Australia currently produces 13 million tonnes of fly ash from coal-fired power generation… along with millions of tonnes of biosolids from urban sewage treatment and green waste from parks, people’s gardens, food and factory effluent.

“By combining these resources in creative ways, we can produce new products to boost fertility, overcome soil deficiencies, absorb toxic contaminants and beautify our urban landscapes,” he said.

“These include garden mulches, organic soil amendments, garden compost, potting media and specially manufactured soils,” Haynes said.

Said a Queensland University statement: “Because urban green waste usually contains a lot of shredded wood and bark, it doesn’t break down all that easily. However, by adding readily decomposable material, this raises the temperature and produces a much better compost.

“By adding 20 percent fly ash to green waste we can greatly increase its water-holding capacity, producing a topsoil replacement that is highly suitable for use in urban settings where people want to save water,” said Haynes.

By such methods, he said some of the society’s worst waste problems can be turned into assets. Haynes presented these findings at the the CleanUp 09 conference at Adelaide.