Ragn-Sells: Pilot project to produce soil from residual waste

Ecogain is currently carrying out a pilot project together with Ragn-Sells trying to develope recipes for soil created by residues from the paper industry. The trials started in the autumn in Nordmaling and the goal of the project is to create soil types that are demanded by companies in the infrastructure and mining and rock materials industry who want to create nature in the construction of green areas, so-called ecological finishing.

"Ragn-Sells has long handled residual products from the paper industry for which they had no use. Now we have begun tests where, by mixing these materials, we can produce soil that suits different types of nature. There is demand in the mining industry, which often has a shortage of the right kind of soil to restore closed mines. This is a good example of how to work circularly" - Sara Carlsén, Project Manager at Ecogain.

The pilot started in late autumn 2019 on Ragn-Sell's land in Nordmaling, Västerbotten.

In 25 test plots, plants have been planted in different soil mixtures and the test will last for five years and hopefully result in new business opportunities for Ragn-Sells."Ragn-Sells is constantly working to find new circular solutions and if we could find a good way to return materials that are not needed to nature, it would be fantastic"
- Marcus Åberg, Market Area Manager at Ragn-Sells.

The aim of the project is to find an optimal soil mixture for re-establishing, for example, pine forests with reindeer lichen or meadows. These habitat types are often sought after because they can provide both reindeer grazing and biodiversity in the ecological rehabilitation of mining areas.