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Waste minimisation and utilisation in greenspace creation

Home research Waste minimisation and utilisation in greenspace creation

Dealing with significant volumes of organic and inorganic wastes

The development of waste-based soil-substitutes and soil-forming materials (organic and inorganic amendments) is a sustainable and cost-effective option for significant volumes of organic and inorganic wastes produced by various industries whilst conserving natural resources:

  • Large amounts of inorganic wastes are generated annually by the minerals, construction and food processing industries.
  • Considerable quantities of organic waste are generated by the food processing industry and a large proportion of the compostable organic waste component still goes to landfill.
  • In the UK, 5 million tonnes of municipal compost are produced every year while current markets for the reuse of such materials are not sufficiently developed to satisfy net production.
  • A study of the socio-economic benefits versus costs of such initiatives would allow a greater understanding of the problems and opportunities that regional and city agencies face in meeting their waste related targets and the impacts of waste usage for land reclamation at the local, regional and national scale.

Research objectives

Publications

Ashwood, F.E., Doick, K.J., Atkinson, G.E., Chenoweth, J. (2014). Under-utilisation of organic wastes during brownfield regeneration to community woodland: Tackling the barriers. Waste Management and Research. 32 (1), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0734242X13512717

Contact

Kieron Doick

Forestry Commission policy

Use of land degraded by former industrial and urban activity makes an increasingly important contribution to the expansion of woodland. Trees planted on such sites offer immense social benefits in addition to the possibility of economic activity on formerly unproductive land. This programme supports the related objectives of the English Forestry Strategy and across Great Britain generally.

Related links

EPSRC – Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

SUBR:IM – Sustainable Urban Brownfield Regeneration: Integrated Management

Downloads

England Forestry Strategy

PDF, 1.35 MB

A New Focus for England's Woodlands. Strategic Priorities and Programmes.

Waste minimisation and utilisation in greenspace creation
In this section
Waste minimisation and utilisation in greenspace creation
Research Status
completed
Research Groups
Urban forests
Funding & partners
  • Enventure Northern Limited
  • Landfill Tax Credit Scheme
  • Maslen Enviromental Limited
  • EPSRC
  • Halcrow Group Limited
  • Holliwell Seed and Grain Company Limited
  • SUBR:IM
  • Terra Eco-Systems
  • Thames Water
  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Surrey
  • Waste Recycling Group
  • Wye College