WHEN PULP AND PAPER MILLS TREAT THEIR WASTEWATER, THE SOLIDS REMOVED ARE RICH IN ORGANIC MATTER--MOSTLY SMALL PARTICLES OF WOOD TOO SHORT TO BE BOUND INTO THE PAPER PRODUCT, AS WELL AS CLAY AND LIME.

		THESE LIGHT-WEIGHT RESIDUALS HOLD WATER, PROVIDE ABUNDANT ORGANIC MATTER, AND HELP BUILD DEEPER ORGANIC SOILS WHEN USED IN AGRICULTURE AND LAND RECLAMATION PROGRAMS. THE BENEFITS INCLUDE REDUCED SOIL EROSION, REDUCED NEED FOR IRRIGATION, INCREASED NUTRIENT-HOLDING CAPACITY, AND REDUCED SOIL COMPACTION.
Land Reclamation with Biosolids and Pulp & Paper Mill Residuals Sand and gravel have been mined from sites throughout New England, leaving the landscape scarred. Similar scars are the result of landfills closing. These kinds of sites are barren, in need of new topsoil and growing plants. Traditionally, native topsoil has been taken from farm fields or construction sites for use in revegetating such sites. But removing native topsoil from farms is environmentally damaging. The use of recyclable organic-rich pulp & paper residuals and biosolids provided a preferable alternative.

BEFORE THIS CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE LANDFILL WAS CLOSED AND COVERED WITH SANDY FILL IN 1997. BUT IT STILL NEEDED VEGETATION TO HOLD THE SOIL, PREVENT EROSION, RETURN THE SITE TO PRODUCTIVE USE, AND RESTORE ITS AESTHETIC APPEARANCE.

AFTER ONE YEAR LATER, THE SITE IS COVERED WITH LUSH GROWTH. AND UNLIKE SITES WHERE ONLY QUICK-RELEASE TRADITIONAL CHEMICAL FERTILIZER HAS BEEN APPLIED, THIS VEGETATION WILL BE SUPPORTED OVER THE LONG-TERM BY THE SLOW RELEASE OF THE ORGANIC NUTRIENTS IN THE BIOSOLIDS AND THE WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY OF THE PULP & PAPER RESIDUALS.