Abstract
Fly ash (FA) is the 80% of coal burnt by-product of thermal power
plants (TPPs), its disposal in landfills causes environmental and health
issues. The amount of FA production is increasing continuously to fulfil
the worldwide energy for demand, which possibly never find a practically
safe method for FA dumping. Its fine particle size disperses in the air
and causes air pollution and water pollution is resulted due to slurry
erosion from FA dumps and contamination by leachate. Health issues and
environmental concerns due to fly ash landfills/dumpsites can be
prohibited by covering with phytoaccumulator plant species. Limitations
of plant growth in FA includes alkaline pH, contain metals such as Cr,
Cd, As, Hg and Pd, toxic level of B, pozzolanic properties of FA and
lack of microbial activity. Generally, the phytoremediation process is
slow therefore, to accelerate the phytoremediation process FA require
organic amendments and bio-fertilizers. This article focuses on the role
of naturally occurring plants in stabilization of FA dumpsite and
physiochemical changes in FA. This review summarises the different
holistic approaches of rehabilitations of FA landfills and also compiles
how to convert FA landfills into useful landfills for bioenergy
productions. Utilization of organic matter and industrial waste has been
proved to provide essential nutrients for plant establishment and heavy
metal accumulation. The outcomes of this learning are beneficial for
classifying site-specific ecological restoration of FA landfills through
holistic approach.