MANAGING EXCESS CONSTRUCTION SOILS in ONTARIO

RCCAO / CL:AIRE Excess Soils WorkshopAugust 19, 2015

Nick Willenbrock, DoW CoP Manager, CL:AIREAndy Manahan, Executive Director, RCCAO

• Group Introductions• Opening Remarks – Andy Manahan, RCCAO• Recent Excess Construction Soil Developments – Group• Ontario MOECC – Jonathan Fernandes

- Soil Guide BMP Implementation

- Soil Policy EBR Review Status• CL:AIRE “Better Regulation” Approach – Nick Willenbrock

- Backgrounder to CL:AIRE

- Definition of Waste Code of Practice

- Qualified Professionals CoP

- Registry of Materials• Questions and Answers - Group

AGENDA

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• Provincial and municipal infrastructure investment in roads, bridges, sewers & watermains, buildings

• Private sector development – residential & commercial

• Generating 20 to 25 million cubic metres of excess construction soil every year in Ontario

– Transport & disposal of excess soils ↑ cost of infrastructure projects by 5% to 25%

– An additional cost as high as $1.7 billion per year

Infrastructure Investments are Increasing Soil Management Challenges

Source: Zechner, Frank J.E. “Quantification of Excess Construction Soils in Ontario” (Oct. 2012), commissioned by RCCAO

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Impacts of the Current “Dig and Dump” Approach• Excess soil is hauled long

distances to designated landfills in rural Ontario.

• Truck traffic generates harmful greenhouse gas emissions

• Increases wear and tear on roads and highways

• Municipalities face increased citizen concerns re: environmental impacts, traffic congestion, illegal dumping

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Changing Perspectives: From Waste to Asset• Widespread agreement that the current approach to managing excess

construction soils is not working• There is a better way• Need to start thinking of “clean” excess construction soils not as a waste,

but as a resource that can be safely and beneficially re-used• Part of a smarter, more cost-effective infrastructure strategy in Ontario

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Implementation is at a Critical Point• January 2014: MOECC released “Management of Excess Soil –

A Guide for Best Management Practices”• This guide provides practical advice to municipalities on how to

responsibly handle and re-use excess soils locally• Includes guidance on implementing by-laws and tendering &

procurement practices that reference the BMPs• Uptake has been low – municipalities need more guidance from

the Province RCCAO/SOiiL Information Room at 2015 OGRA-ROMA Conference Soils Panel at 2015 AMO Conference Town of Whitby Site Alteration By-Law – first draft did not reference the BMP

Guide

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Seizing the Opportunity• We need a multi-ministry approach

to begin real-world implementation of the BMP Guide

• Implementing the BMPs is a “win-win” opportunity to help municipalities tackle soil management challenges

• Province will gain valuable insight into real-world effectiveness of the BMPs – contributing positively to the development of a comprehensive soil policy in Ontario

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• More cost-effective construction of municipal and provincial infrastructure projects

• Lower volume of soil hauled to distant landfills = better air quality

• Reduced truck traffic & wear and tear on local roads

• Better road safety • Support provincial regulators on

combatting unscrupulous companies involved with illegal dumping or selling of contaminated soil

Benefits of Safely Re-Using Excess Construction Soils

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Benefits of BMPs and Safely Re-Using Excess Construction Soils UK Experience (2011)

Source: CL:AIRE Case Study Bulletin 9, “Remediation of a Former Landfill in Coventry: A Practical Application of the Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice in a Cluster Project.” (May 2011) 8

Key Next Steps for Ontario

1. Undertake a multi-ministry approach to more effectively implement MOECC’s BMP Guide for excess soils

2. Targeted outreach to improve municipal and contractor awareness

3. Work together with industry, municipalities to undertake case study projects

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A Targeted Outreach effort may include:

• Seminars/conference calls/webinars for municipal practitioners & officials to help them understand the benefits of implementing the BMP Guide and address concerns and misinformation.

• While MOECC is the lead ministry, MMAH to be the primary contact with municipalities to address soil management challenges and assist with implementation of BMP approaches (e.g. wording in tender documents), accessible and co-ordinated through the Municipal Service Offices.

• Additional implementation resources & supporting materials to help answer common concerns and challenges in implementing the BMP Guide.

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What is SOiiL and Soil Matching?• SOiiL (Supporting Ontario Infrastructure Investments and Lands)• A free online service that matches construction projects that have excess soil with nearby

projects that can safely and beneficially re-use it• Uses a tried-and-tested approach already implemented in the UK• Conditional on users following the MOECC soil management BMP guide

Clean excess soil is generated at a

municipal infrastructure

project or other local construction

project

Using SOiiL, a “match” is found

among registered members where the soil can be beneficially re-

used locally

Instead of going to a distant

landfill, the soil is transported to the nearby

project

The clean excess soil is re-used,

reducing project costs as well as the impact on roads and the environment

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