Soil fabrication program diverting biosolids and other waste from the landfill

City looks to make three year pilot program permanent

June 1, 2020

The City of Winnipeg is working to establish a native prairie landscape at a closed landfill using a rather unique method.

“We are using materials that could have otherwise ended up in the landfill,” said Becky Raddatz, Environmental Planner.

The soil fabrication pilot program has been going on for three years. It uses nutrient-rich biosolids, which are a solid by-product of wastewater treatment, woodchips primarily from trees impacted by Dutch Elm Disease and Emerald Ash Borer, and the sand and grit collected during the spring clean-up operation.

Heavy machinery is used to make windrows of the initial blend until ready to use. The process mostly takes place during the colder months while the ground is frozen.

When it warms up, the fabricated soil is spread on top of Summit Road Landfill on the northwest side of Winnipeg.

“This helps us establish a native prairie landscape as part of our management of the landfill,” said Chris Kosak, Supervisor of Environmental Monitoring and Reporting.

Fabricated soil is spread on the closed Summit Road Landfill.

Native prairie landscape that has been established at the closed Summit Road Landfill.

The City is now applying for an Environmental Act License to make the program permanent. The soil fabrication program also supports the goals of the City’s Biosolids Master Plan.

“This soil fabrication program is part of our plan to manage biosolids, as well as the closed Summit Road Landfill, in an environmental, sustainable, and cost effective way,” said Raddatz.

Residents are welcome to submit feedback to the City on the license application until September.

Parks, Trees and the Environment Water and Waste

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

Ces renseignements sont-ils utiles?

Comment pourrait-on améliorer cette page Web?

Les renseignements recueillis serviront à l’amélioration de notre site Web. Prière de ne pas se servir de ce formulaire pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, car la demande ne sera pas transmise au service en question. Pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le 311.

Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.