Partnerships

The value of partnership, especially in pursuing environmental goals, can't be overstated. New ideas and solutions are possible only when business, government, communities and citizens direct their energy, experience and resources toward a common goal.

At Waste Management, we believe in this type of collaboration. We see it working as we partner with communities to convert closed landfills to parks and other uses. We see it working as we join forces with environmental groups to develop wetlands and habitat to protect wildlife. These partnerships show us all that working together to find innovative solutions is a viable, resourceful way to meet the environmental needs of the future.

Partnerships that reclaim and redevelop

In addition to waste collection, recycling and disposal, Waste Management is also a leader in redeveloping closed landfill sites. Across Canada we have projects underway to return former landfills to active life as parks and other facilities. Not only do these projects make beneficial use of existing land, they also add to the quality of life and vitality of communities.
After closing the Blackwell Road Landfill in 2001, Waste Management consulted with local neighbours on a preferred end us for the site. After all involved parties decided that parkland was the preferred option, WM worked with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority on the naturalization of the 40-hectare site with the planting of 9,000 seedlings, 3,000 shrubs and 200 larger trees along with hiking trails. The park was completed in 2003 and Waste Management recently opened the site as a public park - including a children's playground - to be linked to the City of Sarnia's trail system.

Even in active landfill sites, Waste Management finds ways to help the environment while going about the business of waste disposal and landfill management. For instance, since purchasing the Petrolia Landfill, WM has worked closely with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority to divert the Little Bear Creek, which ran across the landfill site, creating an ecosystem for wildlife habitat that is undisturbed by landfill operations and heavy machinery.

In many places, sections of landfills not currently used for disposal are set aside for wildlife habitats and wetland restoration. We work in partnership with environmental organizations like the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) to plan and manage the long-term care of these environmental preserves.

The value of partnerships is clear in Watford, Ontario, where Waste Management and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority are collaborating on a pilot project to treat leachate. The project, at the Warwick landfill site near Watford, began with 20,000 hybrid poplars being planted over 4 hectares on the landfill cap. Irrigation lines were then installed to move leachate from the landfill to the poplars, which are known for being able to absorb leachate and reducing the amount of treated leachate discharged to the environment. This bio-treatment should reduce the cost of traditional leachate treatment and transportion and will provide all the environmental benefits of tree planting.

In 2004, the Blackwell, Petrolia and Warwick landfill sites received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation from WHC. WHC certifies facilities that go beyond regulatory compliance in their wildlife management programs. Waste Management's landfills provide more than 16,000 acres of protected land for wildlife, and 15 are certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council.

For us, restoring and managing landfill properties is another way to be a leader in responsible environmental management. It's part of our commitment to providing comprehensive services that protect the environment and the communities we serve.