EJQ6 - Fall 2025 - Journal - Page 23
AS THE WINTER SEASON APPROACHES, many Canadian cities and
towns will once again depend on the application of road salt for public
safety during the harsh Canadian winters. While essential, this practice
has led to a signi昀椀cant environmental challenge: the progressive salinization of our landscapes. Soil, groundwater, and surface water bodies
across Ontario are experiencing rising chloride levels, which can be toxic to aquatic life, degrade soil structure, harm salt-intolerant vegetation, and corrode critical infrastructure.
For years, the soil excavated from these salt-impacted areas was considered waste—a costly liability to be hauled away and disposed of. Today, however, a crucial shift in perspective, underpinned by regulatory
innovation and sound science, is reframing this challenge as a unique
opportunity. By embracing best practices, we can transform salt-impacted soil from a burden into a valuable resource that fuels a circular
economy.
A new regulatory framework
The cornerstone of this transformation is Ontario’s On-Site and Excess Soil Management Regulation (O. Reg. 406/19), which fundamen-
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 2 3
