ABSTRACT:
Composts, in particular municipal solid waste (MSW) composts, are readily available in many communities across Canada and could provide an economical source of amendment material for land reclamation and remediation projects. The objectives of this literature review were to synthesize the information available in the scientific literature regarding MSW compost use, or the potential for compost use, in land reclamation and remediation and to identify where gaps in information exist. Over 500 peer reviewed articles, technical reports and conference proceedings were reviewed. The information obtained is organized in this report in five sections: characterization of compost, effects of compost on soil physical properties, effects of compost on soil chemical properties, effects of compost on soil biological properties and effects of compost on plants.
