Phytoremediation Field Test in an Urban Setting at the Monsabré Community Garden in Montréal

The Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV), in partnership with the Montreal Botanical Garden, will test phytoremediation to prove the viability and profitability of this technique on both environmental and economic levels. The Mercier−Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough’s heavy industrial past has left behind a large number of brownfields. Remediating these brownfield sites using the traditional method would require funds that the borough does not have. This test will allow for a complete analysis of the steps necessary to remediate a former community garden contaminated by hydrocarbons and heavy metals, a common mix in many Montreal sites, by means of plants. The method consists of applying a treatment using several plant species, maintaining it, analyzing the biomass produced, and then harvesting and disposing of this biomass through conversion to biofuels and bioproducts. The IRBV will compare the effectiveness of several plant species, various soil amendments and different harvest techniques. In addition to reducing operation and maintenance costs, this procedure offers numerous environmental benefits: capturing greenhouse gases, reducing heat islands, reducing transportation-related emissions, etc. The IRBV will use this field test to establish a replicable model that is easily transferable to other Montreal sites and to countless other Canadian municipalities. Several tools will be developed, including technical procedures and recommendations, as well as an estimation of the costs and time required for brownfield remediation. (As per February 10, 2016 announcement)