EJQ6 - Fall 2025 - Journal - Page 25
For Ontario landscapes, options include hardy native trees like the Red
Oak (Quercus rubra) and White Spruce (Picea glauca), and resilient shrubs
such as Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina). A diverse mix of perennials and
grasses, including Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis), can create a vibrant and healthy groundcover.
By choosing the right plants, we establish resilient ecosystems that require less maintenance and fewer inputs.
Integration with green infrastructure
The opportunities for reusing salt-impacted soil extend directly into
the creation of modern green infrastructure. Projects like bioswales and
rain gardens, which are designed to manage stormwater runo昀昀, can effectively utilize salt-impacted soil as a component of their engineered
growing media. These systems help mitigate the impacts of urbanization by capturing, 昀椀ltering, and in昀椀ltrating runo昀昀 before it enters our
storm sewers and waterways. By designing them with a salt-tolerant
plant community, these green infrastructure assets function e昀昀ectively
even along roadsides and in parking lots where salt spray is common.
This innovative use not only provides a sustainable outlet for excess soil
but also creates multi-functional green spaces that reduce urban heat island
e昀昀ects, provide wildlife habitat, and enhance the beauty of our communities.
Closing the loop for a greener future
The journey of salt-impacted soil—from a problematic waste stream to a
foundational element of sustainable development—is a powerful illustration of the circular economy in action. By leveraging a progressive regulatory framework and implementing science-based best practices, we can close
the loop on soil management. This approach delivers a cascade of bene昀椀ts: it
drastically reduces disposal costs for developers and municipalities, conserves
昀椀nite land昀椀ll space, and lessens the demand for quarrying virgin aggregates
and topsoil. More importantly, it allows us to build greener, more resilient
communities.
The intelligent and planned reuse of salt-impacted soil is no longer a niche
concept; it is an essential practice for any organization committed to environmental stewardship and sustainable urban growth.
Jose Haig, M.NRES, P.Ag, Cert. Urban Ecologies is Principal
Consultant of Reclaim Environmental.
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 5
