**The Characteristics of Phytoremediation of Soil and Leachate Polluted by Landfills**

Reyhan Erdogan and Zeynep Zaimoglu

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/61105

#### **Abstract**

Current landfill regulations provide for the responsible management of solid waste anda safer alternative to the outdated practices of open orillegaldumping.Aside from imparting aesthetic value, natural or planted vegetation on landfill sites has an important role in erosion control and removal of contaminants, and may also be used inleachingtreatment.Theuseofleachatefortheirrigationoflandfillvegetationreduces its harmful effects, and the reuse of water aids in water conservation. The aim of this study was to search for ways to use leachate water from solid waste landfill sites for irrigation of plant species that normally grow in the wild. The study focuses on the plant species *Alcea rosea* (hollyhock), *Cynodon dactylon* (Bermuda grass) and *Melilotus officinalis*(yellow melilot). Overthe 2-year study period, plants were irrigated with tap and leachate water under drought conditions.Wild plant diversity was identified, and the landfill was rehabilitated with various plant species. After the experiment, populations of*Escherichia coli*,total coliforms andfecal coliformbacteria insoil samples were analyzed. We observed that the use of leachate water for cultivation of different kinds of plants affected the density of total and fecal coliforms in the soil.

**Keywords:** Landfill, Leachate water, Remediation, Coliform bacteria
