Co - composting of sediments and green waste will produce growing media characterised by their high fertility, high structure quality, high water holding capacity and high biological activity. High added value new developed growing media can (alternatively) replace peat and coir pith. The use of innovative sediment based growing media and of reconstituted soil will fulfil the principle of sustainability by transforming macronutrient rich waste material to new product capable to replace substrates/growing media made of natural sources that need to be mined. The obtained growing media / sediment will be fully characterized in terms of safety for ecosystems and human health. Health of Experimental plants – Photinia x fraseri and Viburnum tinus – after prolonged growth on substrates containing co - composted sediments will be evaluated. The LCA and an economic analysis of the re use of dredged sediments for the two production processes will be assessed to bring the innovative growing media for professional plant nursery and amendments for soils restoration close to the market. One of the main project objectives aims at removing the normative and legislative issues linked to the use of co - composted sediments in agricultural production and soil rehabilitation and generally at increasing the public awareness and positive perception thereof.
