Construction Complete for Soilless Soil Pilot Site!
The Soilless Soil research team is excited to announce the construction of the first full-size bioretention basin using our glass-based soil (GBS)!
With funding from the EPA , the research team collaborated with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) to retrofit a Fairmont Park stormwater bioretention basin damaged in Hurricane Ida. Building on our past research in the greenhouse and lab, the team designed the pilot bioretention basin to test the performance of GBS under real-world conditions. By monitoring the basin from Fall 2022 through Fall 2023, we’ll expand our understanding of GBS’ effects on water flow and quality, as well as its suitability as a planting medium.
Congrats to the whole research team for reaching this important step!
Glass recycling nonprofit Bottle Underground sourced, sorted, and crushed over 25,000 lbs of waste glass for use in the experimental glass-based soil (GBS).
Next, Andela Products pulverized the crushed glass into a consistency similar to natural, mined sand.
Laurel Valley Soils then blended the resulting glass-sand with composted mushroom compost and loam to create the bioretention soil. Building on the team’s previous research findings, Craul Land Scientists worked with OLIN to refine the mix of soil components for this field study.
The pilot side is located within Fairmont Park. The research team coordinated with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) to retrofit an existing stormwater bioretention basin.
At the Fairmont Park bioretention basin, Think Green installed two soil types in adjacent zones: our experimental glass-based soil, and a control soil that includes natural mined sand.
Think Green then planted a mix of 6 herbaceous plant species suitable for Philadelphia-area bioretention systems. Many thanks to North Creek Nurseries for providing plants for this project!
We’re looking forward to watching the new plants grow! To learn more about how GBS performs in the field, Engineering & Land Planning Associates and OLIN will monitor the basin to assess water flow, water quality, and plant growth.
We’re also looking forward to researching how we can scale up GBS production beyond this pilot phase. With a research team that includes The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, Circular Philadelphia, Bottle Underground, Andela Products, and Bennett Compost, we’ll continue to study how to recycle more of Pennsylvania’s waste glass into green stormwater infrastructure.