Due to national environmental goals, 191 closed landfills were inventoried according to a national methodology for inventory of polluted areas. The inventory took place in thirteen of the municipalities in the region of Västerbotten during the summer of 2013. 159 of the landfills were classified to risk class 3 on a scale of 4. Landfills in this category consist of diverse nature, ranging from adequate coverage but poor placement, to insufficient coverage and visible leakage, but without urgent risk. The purpose of this report was to follow up on the inventory. It resulted in identifying and prioritizing the actions required and a general plan of action for the landfills in the region. The focus was mainly on landfills in class 3, but those in risk class 2 are also included. This report was based mostly on forms for the closed landfills and a survey aimed at regional administrations. The result showed that the most common actions required were clean up, coverage, investigation of leakage and information about the unsuitability of depositing waste, including yard waste, at a closed landfill. A status division of the landfills in class 3 was determined, where the landfills that required actions were assigned the statuses +, 0 or -. Criteria for + includes proximity to vulnerable nature, risk for contamination of drinking water, poor coverage, or visible leakage. The landfills in class 2 should be prioritized for further actions, and after that those in risk class 3 with the + status.

There are over one thousand closed ‘small’ landfills in Ontario, each with differing circumstances and potential problems. This project proposes a method of addressing such dormant sites in situ, based upon a case study in Hamilton. Of the four closed landfills within Hamilton city limits, three of them lie in the low lands of the Red Hill Creek Valley. Perched at the source of the Red Hill Creek, the Upper Ottawa Street Landfill introduces unspoken toxins into the ecosystem of the entire valley. As the storm water catchment for the escarpment watershed, the creek serves a critical role in the recreational green belt which divides Hamilton and Stoney Creek. The source of this creek must be celebrated, not fenced off from public access due to landfill hazards. This proposal investigates beyond material recovery, into the possibilities of resource, ecosystem, and community recovery. Landfill mining, material sorting, and power generation through incineration are employed to reduce landfill volume. As the landfill is consumed, a new landscape is constructed, providing improved flood-prevention at the creek and a sanitary lined landfill for those materials remaining on site. Creek, forest, and field habitats are restored on site without the threat of contamination from landfill contents. The public can safely view the landfill mining operations from an elevated walkway, having new experiences with every visit. As the boundaries of the closed landfill are stripped away, the source of the Red Hill Creek and the new recreational parkland are made publicly accessible. Using this design as a reference, the equipment and operations designed for this site can be developed into a province-wide proposal.

There are over one thousand closed ‘small’ landfills in Ontario, each with differing circumstances and potential problems. This project proposes a method of addressing such dormant sites in situ, based upon a case study in Hamilton. Of the four closed landfills within Hamilton city limits, three of them lie in the low lands of the Red Hill Creek Valley. Perched at the source of the Red Hill Creek, the Upper Ottawa Street Landfill introduces unspoken toxins into the ecosystem of the entire valley. As the storm water catchment for the escarpment watershed, the creek serves a critical role in the recreational green belt which divides Hamilton and Stoney Creek. The source of this creek must be celebrated, not fenced off from public access due to landfill hazards. This proposal investigates beyond material recovery, into the possibilities of resource, ecosystem, and community recovery. Landfill mining, material sorting, and power generation through incineration are employed to reduce landfill volume. As the landfill is consumed, a new landscape is constructed, providing improved flood-prevention at the creek and a sanitary lined landfill for those materials remaining on site. Creek, forest, and field habitats are restored on site without the threat of contamination from landfill contents. The public can safely view the landfill mining operations from an elevated walkway, having new experiences with every visit. As the boundaries of the closed landfill are stripped away, the source of the Red Hill Creek and the new recreational parkland are made publicly accessible. Using this design as a reference, the equipment and operations designed for this site can be developed into a province-wide proposal.