001-45_EJQR10_FALL26_PT - Flipbook - Page 4
I was pleasantly surprised. Turns out the site had been modi昀椀ed with 昀氀ooding
in mind, so the aftermath of the storm proved to be more manageable than
it might have otherwise been. Soil management practices at the site have
improved climate resilience by transforming hard, vulnerable urban spaces
into living landscapes that absorb water and reduce 昀氀ood risks.
“We were better prepared this time. And our site performed the way it was
designed to: it let water in and then quickly let it out,” said Jen. “That is true
climate resilience: it shows up in the way we build places and infrastructure.”
As we recognize the 10th annual ESS this fall, it’s a 昀椀tting time to take stock
of the evolution of soils management in Ontario. The focus has shifted from
“Where can we dispose of this dirt?” to “What is this soil, what is it suitable
for, and where can it be bene昀椀cially reused?”
GETTY IMAGES
Milestones and the evolution of soil standards
In 2016, a fragmented, waste-oriented system was in existence. Construction
projects routinely moved surplus soil o昀昀-site, with relatively little provincewide framework speci昀椀cally governing where suitable soil could go. There
was concern over rampant illegal dumping, inappropriate relocation of
contaminated soil, and too many trucks moving large quantities of reusable
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