Working Trees for Treating Waste: A Natural Alternative for Using Nutrients from Livestock and Farm Operations, Municipalities, and Industries

Authors

Date of this Version

May 2000

Comments

Published by USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), East Campus – UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583-0822. Website http://www.unl.edu/nac

Abstract

Excess nutrients and other chemicals from agricultural, municipal, and industrial operations impact surface and ground water quality. Plant science and engineering have combined forces forming a natural partnership between treating waste and growing trees. The technology of putting fast growing trees to work recycling nutrients from solid and liquid waste is available and increasingly being adopted. This waste treatment approach has emerged as an alternative to other more expensive treatment technologies, such as constructed treatment plants.