Phytotechnology

As you get older, you learn. Mannington has been manufacturing at our Salem, NJ location since 1915, and we’ve learned better techniques that create less (or no) waste. But contaminants still remain from processes that are now obsolete.

We’ve been conducting an experiment with something called phytotechnology to see if we could use plants to remediate the contaminated areas at our facility. After a preliminary study and a field test, results have been encouraging but mixed. Since the wetlands surrounding us are so ecologically sensitive, we are searching for better than “might work,” so we are investigating other methods to remediate the site and plan on implementing our research elsewhere at our location.

For our preliminary study, we asked a phytotechnology expert for a small-scale treatability study of 35 native plant species such as trees, shrubs and grass. The ability of the plants to degrade, extract, and bioaccumulate contaminants into their leaves for later harvest was recorded, using several soil mixtures to find the right ratio of contaminants to soil. This greenhouse test was completed in 2000, and the results suggested that phytotechnology would work.

The next step was our ongoing field study, using soil from the lagoons and from the sediment placement area. We built test cells on the inactive industrial landfill, excavating some 85 cubic yards of soil and sludge from each area, and carefully protected the surrounding area from test leachwater.

Natural solutions take time, money and care, and there are no guarantees of success. Still, as we say without apology, they’re “the right thing to do. ”

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