RAPID CITY, S.D. – The City of Rapid City is testing whether biochar, a product made from wood waste, can help neutralize herbicide contamination in its municipal compost. City officials say the contamination has affected the compost program for the past four to five years, and residents are still advised not to use the compost in gardens or on broadleaf plants.
The pilot project, in partnership with Dakota BioChar, will compare plant growth in compost treated with biochar against untreated compost. Initial results could be available by next spring.
Biochar is created through a process called pyrolysis, which heats wood with very little oxygen. The project also ties into the city’s effort to find new uses for wood debris generated by major storms, including the December 2025 windstorm that left large amounts of downed timber across the Rapid City area.
City officials stress the project remains in the testing phase, and current recommendations against using city compost in vegetable gardens remain in place.
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