phytocapping
n.— «Landfill sites produce the greenhouse gases, methane and carbon dioxide, as putrescible waste decays. Growing plants and trees on top of a landfill, a process known as “Phytocapping,” could reduce the production and release of these gases.» —“Putting a green cap on garbage dumps” in Australia EurekaAlert Nov. 24, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A Nevada listener says her mother used to ask her to collect the pearls after a meal, meaning “gather up all the unused dishes and utensils that didn’t need to be washed.” In Australian slang, such an item is often called a sunbeam. This is part of...
Amy from Charlotte, North Carolina, reports a dispute arose when visiting her brother’s family. Is a large container for storing sugar properly called a can or a canister? The answer involves prototype theory, which in cognitive linguistics and...
Phytocapping does much more than simply reducing the release of methane and other greenhouse gases. Perhaps an even more compelling benefit is the ability of the phytocap to act as a “sponge” that soaks up rainwater and prevents it from leaching through the landfill and polluting the groundwater beneath. For more detailed information about the benefits and methodology of phytocapping, Phytocapping.com has a few great articles about it.