SoilLifeBoats

The project focuses on three environmental problems:  

• Excess cellulose / cardboard waste 

• Excess rock gravel and slurry waste from the stone construction industry 

• Decreased soil quality caused by climate changes and human activities  

Both cellulose and silicate minerals are key players in long-term carbon sequestration in soil. Rock cellulose pellets (RCP) produced from wastepaper short cellulose fibres and rock-dust slurry waste have shown benefits for improving soil quality. Tightly pressed wasted cellulose fibres from the paper industry constitute the organic matrix of the RCP. Fine rock particles (marble, granite and basalt), in the form of slurry waste from the construction industry, provide the mineral ‘scaffold’ of the RCP.  

Earlier observations have shown a great variety of mesofauna living in RCP buried in soil, especially during dry periods and in arid soils. The high porous structure of the RCP composite results in a strong capillary force that attracts water into the pellets. As a result, soil microorganisms that are under water-stress migrate to the pellets, which work as “lifeboats”, helping the organisms to survive dry periods. After rainfall, when soil becomes moist again, the microorganisms recolonise the soil. The rock waste used in the pellet production will help to correct soil pH and improve the soil structure, which will result in increased plant growth and CO2 sequestration in plant biomass. 

The objective of the SoilLifeBoats project is the improvement of soil condition, soil mineral structure and carbon content through the agricultural and horticultural use of composite rock cellulose pellets (RCP) made from short-fibre cellulose waste and gravel and slurry rock waste.   

The project develops, demonstrates and promotes an innovative technique for producing RCP, and promotes a new method of soil structure and biodiversity improvement, by using the RCP and wood chips impregnated with NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilisers. 

The project aims at burying approximately 200 tonnes of RCP (100 tonnes of RCP including 50 tonnes of cellulose and 50 tonnes of stone, plus 100 tonnes of hydrosoil). 

The specific project objectives include:

• Demonstration of SoilLifeBoats technology in five European cities
• Application of SoilLifeBoats technology on 18.5 hectares
• Construction of a prototype installation for RCP production
• Production of 200 tonnes of SoilLifeBoats for demonstration
• Recycling of 50 tonnes of cellulose waste 
• Recycling of 50 tonnes of rock waste from the stone construction industry
• Presenting the local communities with a new method of recycling cardboard and stone waste
• Informing local waste agencies and the public about the new method of recycling cardboard packaging waste and stone waste
• Promoting the new technology in European cities (contacting local governments to demonstrate the advantages of the technology; teleconferences with local communities and authorities; dissemination of informational and promotional materials in a given language via internet and via post).