River Valley Organics, of Wrightsville, Meadville Land Service Inc. (814-337-1974) of Meadville, PA and Weaver Mulch in Coatesville have teamed up with Filtrexx International to produce recycled organic products for stream bank stabilization, erosion and sediment control on construction sites and roadsides, stormwater drain inlet protection, removal of hydrocarbons in stormwater runoff, stormwater and bio-retention ponds, and green roofs for buildings.

Projects areas in Pennsylvania include PennDOT State Road 222 near Reading, Lower Paxton Township near Harrisburg, Mason Dixon Farms in Gettysburg, and Foundations Phase II Project in Lancaster.

Soil erosion is considered the biggest contributor to nonpoint source pollution in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Soil loss from both agricultural and nonagricultural lands in the United States amounts to over 4 billion metric tons each year due to erosion. Soil loss rates from construction sites are 10-20 times that of agricultural lands. It is estimated that the annual cost to society for on-site loss of soil, nutrients, water and yield reduction due to soil erosion is over $27 billion per year.

The most serious impacts of soil erosion occur once the sediment leaves the site and enters surface waters. When eroded sediment is transported from its site of origin to nearby surface waters it also carries fertilizers, pesticides, fuels and other contaminants and substances commonly spilled at construction sites that readily attach to soil particles.

Surface water that is loaded with sediment can lead to reduced drainage capacity, increased flooding, decreased aquatic organism populations, decreased commercial and recreational fishing catches, clogged and damaged commercial and industrial irrigation systems, increased expenditures at water treatment plants to clean the water, and decreased recreational and aesthetic value of water resources.

Diverting organic materials from landfills has many benefits, including, reducing potential ground water pollution from landfill leachate, the amount of methane released to the atmosphere, the need to expand existing landfills and construct new ones, and potentially improve soil quality by replacing organic matter and recycling nutrients if applied to highly depleted soils.

For more information contact Britt Faucette, Director of Research, Filtrexx International by calling 678-592 7094 or by email to: britt_faucette@hotmail.com .

1/21/2005