163
Economics of Phytoremediation
The cost of reforestation to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of $1–$10/ton of carbon dioxide is relatively low compared to many
alternatives (Gillingham & Stock, 2018). If this is accomplished using phytoremediation at a contaminated site, land is restored to a productive use. In their
work, they show that adding carbon to soil and aboveground vegetation is inexpensive compared to capturing carbon dioxide from combustion processes.
9.4 Motivation for Action
Vegetation is established at sites for several different reasons. Regulatory
agencies may require land owners to reduce risk and/or contaminant movement due to wind and/or water erosion. Land owners may want to improve
soil quality in order to use the land productively. There may be an interest
to improve aesthetics and the quality of life in the neighborhood. A forest
may be established to grow trees that benefit the global carbon balance and
accumulate wood for future use.
The Tri-State Mining area in southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, and
southwest Missouri includes more than 80,000 ha (800 km 2 ). While there has
been some remediation, there is a need to do more phytostabilization to reduce
risk and improve soil quality so the land can be used more productively. After
the mining ended, there has been some research related to establishing vegetation on the mine tailings that are found in southeast Kansas. This abandoned
mine land is a good example of a site where organic matter such as manure or
biosolids need to be added to help establish vegetation. The motivation at this
site includes risk reduction, carbon sequestration, better aesthetics, soil quality
improvement, and future profitable use of the land.
There is a significant effort to meet the goals of the Paris agreement on
climate change. Each contaminated site that is restored using phytoremediation with added soil carbon and productive vegetation contributes positively
to the effort to stop the accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere. There are
many good choices with respect to what to plant. Locally adapted vegetation
should be considered. It is also important to improve the ecosystem at the site
so more and better ecosystem services are able to be provided.
9.5 Economics of Phytoremediation
The global interest and significant use of phytoremediation is because of its
low cost compared to other methods (Pivetz, 2001). There have been many
sites where this technology has been used successfully. The cost of using
Economics of Phytoremediation
The cost of reforestation to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of $1–$10/ton of carbon dioxide is relatively low compared to many
alternatives (Gillingham & Stock, 2018). If this is accomplished using phytoremediation at a contaminated site, land is restored to a productive use. In their
work, they show that adding carbon to soil and aboveground vegetation is inexpensive compared to capturing carbon dioxide from combustion processes.
9.4 Motivation for Action
Vegetation is established at sites for several different reasons. Regulatory
agencies may require land owners to reduce risk and/or contaminant movement due to wind and/or water erosion. Land owners may want to improve
soil quality in order to use the land productively. There may be an interest
to improve aesthetics and the quality of life in the neighborhood. A forest
may be established to grow trees that benefit the global carbon balance and
accumulate wood for future use.
The Tri-State Mining area in southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, and
southwest Missouri includes more than 80,000 ha (800 km 2 ). While there has
been some remediation, there is a need to do more phytostabilization to reduce
risk and improve soil quality so the land can be used more productively. After
the mining ended, there has been some research related to establishing vegetation on the mine tailings that are found in southeast Kansas. This abandoned
mine land is a good example of a site where organic matter such as manure or
biosolids need to be added to help establish vegetation. The motivation at this
site includes risk reduction, carbon sequestration, better aesthetics, soil quality
improvement, and future profitable use of the land.
There is a significant effort to meet the goals of the Paris agreement on
climate change. Each contaminated site that is restored using phytoremediation with added soil carbon and productive vegetation contributes positively
to the effort to stop the accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere. There are
many good choices with respect to what to plant. Locally adapted vegetation
should be considered. It is also important to improve the ecosystem at the site
so more and better ecosystem services are able to be provided.
9.5 Economics of Phytoremediation
The global interest and significant use of phytoremediation is because of its
low cost compared to other methods (Pivetz, 2001). There have been many
sites where this technology has been used successfully. The cost of using