Projects: Evapotranspiration Landfill Cover in Berlin- Tree Species Survivability Trials and Establishment

Project Site

Berlin, Germany

Organization

 

Contact Person

Hans-Holger Liste, Ph.D. , h.liste@gmx.de

Purpose of Project

N/A

The former municipal solid waste landfill Altablagerung Wannsee (AAW) in southwestern Berlin was chosen for installation of an evapotranspiration (ET) landfill cover design. This design relies on a qualified soil-vegetation barrier to minimize or prevent water from infiltrating into the underlying waste, thereby minimizing leachate generation. Scots pine (Pinus silvestris) saplings were planted on the AAW into the grass-covered top soil layer (silty sand compost blend) in 2005. Most of the 14,000 planted pines died the same year. Three experimental field plots were established in 2006 to tackle this problem, including the alternative planting of Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) and Norway spruce (Picea abies). The plot locations represent locally common topographical and exposure conditions. Ecotechnology means are being tested for increasing survival and growth of the conifers. Environmental site conditions are characterized regularly, emphasizing key soil parameters, vegetation composition, and weather.

Project Durarion

In progress since February 2006

Project Status

Continuing

Project Media

Wastewater: landfill leachate

Contaminant categories

Other

Health/exposure concerns

Minimizing leachate generation from landfills also minimizes groundwater transport of contaminants to drinking or irrigation water sources.

Phytotechnology mechanism

phytohydraulics

Plant Species

Pinus silvestris (Scots Pine), Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine), Picea abies (Norway Spruce)

Remediation Enhancing Additives

none

Project Scale

Pilot Scale

Remediation Location

In Situ

Remediation volumn/area

220,000 m2

Project Costs

10 Mio. Euros

Secondary Value/Uses for Project Land and Plants

none