The developed solution allows the sustainable recovery of soils contaminated by potentially toxic elements (PTE) through the use of organic amendments, such as compost and/or biochar, deriving from waste biomass. The addition of compost and/or biochar to soils contaminated by PTE, even in combination with plant species, reduces the mobility and ecotoxicity of pollutants, increases soil fertility and functionality, ultimately promoting its productive recovery.

The use of organic-based amendments such as biochar, compost and their mixtures, is an effective solution for the restoration of PTE-contaminated soils. The activities carried out by the UNISS research unit, within the context of the Task 7.3.3, clearly showed that the above-mentioned organic amendments (when added to soil) can be useful to reduce PTE mobility, enhance the chemical fertility, functionality and biodiversity of PTE-contaminated marginal soils. The implementation of such solution in assisted-phytoremediation experiments using non-food crops, and carried out in controlled conditions, showed that organic-based amendments can be crucial for the productive recovery of PTE-contaminated areas.

Main targets benefiting from the solution developed are: private and public companies working in the field of soil remediation, and/or compost/biochar producers, policy makers as well as public and private organizations involved in land management and protection.