Status of waste generation, disposal ways and poplar species as a landfillcover in south Korea

The objectives of this paper were 1) to overview present waste generation a nd disposal ways in Korea and 2) to discuss the possible phytoremediation u sing poplar species in landfill. In Korea, municipal waste occupies a large portion of total waste generatio n, even though the amount of briquet ashes in municipal waste decreases. Fu rthermore, industrial waste has gradually increased during the last couples of years. Landfill area in Korea has been also enlarged due to increased m unicipal and industrial wastes. Leachate and heavy metals in landfills can be environmentally problematic. In Korea, several studies have suggested that poplar trees could be suitabl e species for phytoremediation in landfills because these species transpire leachate and take up heavy metals. Especially, leachate absorption capacit y of Populus alba x P. gladulosa and P. euramericana was better than that o f other poplars. The growth of Populus euramericana in certain landfills wa s better than that in mountain areas. In addition, poplar plantation in lan dfills can provide an environmentally friendly ecosystem between landfill a nd its neighbors.