Phytoremediation

In phytoremediation, plants are used to remediate contaminants in groundwater, sediment and soil. WESTON has successfully implemented phytoremediation technology at many sites, including:

At J-Field, Aberdeen Proving Ground, WESTON installed a phytoremediation plantation consisting of 172 poplar trees that removed mass from the source area while either recovery wells or recirculating wells operated downgradient and monitored natural attenuation via anaerobic degradation in the marsh sediments forming the perimeter of the model.

For the DiamlerChrysler Forge Site, WESTON used  phytoremediation/phytoextraction to remove lead from soil prior to off-site disposal, resulting in cost savings of over $600,000 compared to hazardous waste disposal. In 1999, the WESTON/DaimlerChrysler Phytoremediation Project Team received DaimlerChrysler's Continuously Honors Environmental Excellence with Recognition (CHEER) award. This award recognized the team's innovative use of sunflowers and mustard plants, planted in a giant flower bed, to remove lead contamination from soil.