EJQ6 - Fall 2025 - Journal - Page 17
APPROXIMATELY 25 MILLION CUBIC METRES of excess soil is generated in the
province each year—much of it potentially reusable with the right planning and
treatment approach— according to Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). As Canada’s brown昀椀eld pipeline grows and disposal costs
rise, insitu stabilization/solidi昀椀cation (ISS) lets owners keep impacted soils on site
by immobilizing contaminants while delivering geotechnical performance that
supports redevelopment.
The policy backdrop (and why it matters)
Ontario’s O. Reg. 406/19 remains the key driver for bene昀椀cial reuse and tracking of
excess soils. A major change since last year is that the province delayed the prohibition on land昀椀lling excess soil from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2027. That gives
owners two more construction seasons to pivot towards reuse technologies like
ISS—without backsliding on compliance.
BY TREATING
SOILS IN PLACE, THEY
CAN STAY ON SITE AS
ENGINEERED FILL.
CREDIT: GEO-SOLUTIONS
Beyond Ontario, British Columbia fully implemented its soil relocation regime
(Part 8, Contaminated Sites Regulation) and continues to expand public visibility
through the Soil Relocation Information System (SRIS)—useful for due diligence on
receiving sites and regional 昀氀ows.
Quebec requires mandatory traceability of excavated contaminated soils through
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • FA L L 2 02 5 • P AGE 1 7
