Belle Island Landfill Site - Passive Treatment Feasibility Studies

Type of initiative FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector Waste
Project value$470,000
Project Type Feasibility Study
Sub Sector Leachate Management
Grant amount$100,000
Program type GMF
Municipality City of Kingston, ON
Status Fully Disbursed
Population 132,485
Project timeline 2001 - 2009
Project number 2443

Description

Kingston is looking for ways to manage the leachate that seeps from its Belle Island Landfill. Currently, that leachate ispumped to the city's sewer system and treated at a plant - a costly, labour–intensive and energy–intensive process. Thisproject would study the feasibility of using passive treatment systems to degrade ammonia and other contaminants andto sequester metals from the leachate. These systems employ the natural abilities of plant species to control shallowgroundwater movement, taking water up via their root systems, thus limiting leachate migration. The city is also exploringthe possibility of using these systems to treat storm water runoff discharged to the Cataraqui River. This would be thefirst use of this kind of application in Canada. The project would save the energy currently used to treat the leachate, andwould replace chemical/mechanical interventions while enhancing the natural environment.

Applicant

City of Kingston, ON