Hills Laboratories (Hamilton, New Zealand), accredited by International Accreditation New Zealand (formerly TELARC)analysed EcoCover mulch mat for post biodegradation heavy metal leachate into the soil.
This research was undertaken to verify overseas empirical evidence that the ‘printing inks’ contained in commercial waste paper were not in any way harmful to the soil.
Hills Laboratories analysis showed EcoCover mulch mat, which is manufactured primarily from recycled waste commercial paper, to contain the following detectable heavy metals:
• 0.08 g.m-3 total Copper
• 0.29 g.m-3 total Zinc
• No detectable quantities were found of Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel and Lead using international detection limits.
• EcoCover has a pH of 7.2 – that is, neutral.
A copy of the Hills Laboratories report may accessed via the link found in the Product Attributes section, point 2.3 ‘Biodegradability’.