Title: Utilisation of municipal solid waste as an amendment for reclamation of coal mine spoil dump

Authors: Asha A. Juwarkar, Sanjeev Kumar Singh

Addresses: Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur – 440 020, India. ' Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur – 440 020, India

Abstract: Mine spoil dumps generated due to mining activities pose drastic physico-chemical and biological constraints for sustainable vegetation. Thus an eco-friendly and cost-effective Microbe Assisted Phytoremediation (MAP) is adopted for reclamation of coalmine spoil dumps. The results indicate that MAP is also an excellent tool for fast restoration and productivity of wastelands, 95–99% plants survival rate, provides CO₂ sinks, generating fuel, fibre, food, fodder, medicines, etc. Thus, the MAP aids the mining industries in converting the negative impacts of the degraded ecosystem into a source of revenue in a short span and opens a new avenue to implement the technology in different types of wastelands.

Keywords: coal mines; mine spoil dumps; municipal solid waste; mycorrhizae; biofertilisers; microbe assisted phytoremediation; MAP; reclamation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2007.015154

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.407 - 420

Published online: 18 Sep 2007 *

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