The use of a biodegradable chelator for enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals by Festuca arundinacea from municipal solid waste compost and associated heavy metal leaching

► Using NTA and permeable barrier to assess metal phytoextraction by turfgrass and leaching. ► NTA increased Cu, Pb, and Zn uptakes in two crops of F. arundinacea. ► Barriers positioned between MSW compost and soil effectively reduced metal leaching. ► With regard to total metal amounts in the compost, slight metal leaching occurred in all treatments. ► NTA-assisted phytoextraction by turfgrass with barriers should be environmentally safe.