Growing trees on landfills

Completed landfills have become an attractive source of land use in densely populated areas such as Hong Kong. Recreation is the most common usage of completed landfills and planting trees on these landfills are essential. However, there are adverse landfill factors which inhibit plant growth and establishment. This article attempts to discuss the various factors, namely; landfill gas, leachate, reduced soil condition, elevated temperature, by citing examples relevant to Hong Kong, as much as possible. Emphasis will be made on leguminous trees as they seem to tolerate the landfill conditions, better than the non-legumes.