12k Tons of Dumped Orange Peel Grew into a Landscape Nobody Expected (2017)

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An abandoned experiment involved dumping 12,000 tonnes of orange peel on degraded land in Costa Rica in the 1990s, which revitalized the area into a lush forest.
The project, canceled after two years due to a lawsuit, still led to a 176% increase in above-ground biomass and richer soil compared to untreated areas.
After 16 years, the site transformed into a dense jungle with greater tree diversity, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear, possibly involving soil rejuvenation and suppression of invasive grass.
Researchers highlight the potential for similar projects to achieve cost-negative carbon sequestration, waste management, and ecological restoration, inspiring thoughtful experimentation.

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