Waterfront Toronto’s Pilot Soil Recycling Facility and innovative approach to soil remediation were acknowledged recently with a 2010 Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award. The Brownie Awards are considered the Canadian industry standard for recognizing excellence in leadership and innovation in brownfield redevelopment, and commitment to the remediation of brownfield projects. Waterfront Toronto’s pilot soil recycling facility, located in the Port Lands, won in the Remediation Technologies and Technological Innovation category.
According to Waterfront Toronto, they established the Port Lands Pilot Soil Recycling Facility in July 2010 as part of its soil management strategy and overall commitment to sustainability. The objective of the pilot is to determine the viability of treating and reusing impacted soil as an alternative to the traditional dig-and-dump disposal of brownfield soil. For the pilot, the latest and best technologies available were used to treat contaminated soils, including soil washing, complemented by field trials of a number of other cutting-edge technologies.
Next Steps for Soil Recycling Pilot
The processing stage of the soil recycling pilot recently wrapped up. Between early September and early November, the facility operators DEC and Tetra Tech /Stuyvesant processed approximately 20,000 cubic metres of soil. During the first quarter of 2011, Waterfront Toronto says they will complete evaluation of the pilot test results and determine a go-forward plan. A public meeting will be held in the spring to present and discuss the findings and plan with the community and stakeholders.
Waterfront Toronto also says the pilot soil recycling facility is being shut down for the winter with the site being cleaned and temporarily reconfigured to reduce the potential for rainwater and snowmelt runoff. The soil washing equipment, which cannot be operated in the winter, is being cleaned and will remain on the site until the spring.
www.waterfronttoronto.ca
