Landfill Construction Underway to Close NW Slope

The City is decommissioning the northwest slope of the Landfill, which is at full capacity. This fall, more than 2,000 truckloads of soil will cover the entire 38,000 square metres of surface at least one metre thick before being compacted to minimize any environmental impact.

“This northwest mound was originally opened in 1955 and has served Saskatoon well,” says Michelle Jelinski, Senior Project Management Engineer. “Once it is fully compacted and contained, we will expand the landfill gas collection system to this area and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Drivers will notice construction from Circle Drive South in an area the size of 8.5 CFL football fields, representing about ten percent of the total Landfill site. The soil cover reduces odour, litter and potential for negative impacts to groundwater.

In 2011, City Council approved the Landfill Optimization Plan to extend the life of the Landfill by 40 more years to 2050. Recommendations include adopting new operational processes, reclaiming inefficiently-filled areas, managing gas emissions, expanding waste cells where possible and a concerted effort toward waste minimization.

“By being proactive and closing out this area of the landfill, we are able to meet regulatory requirements, minimize environmental impacts, and be a good neighbour to the citizens of Saskatoon by improving the esthetics of the Landfill,”  says Jelinski.

Citizens are invited to take the 30-Day Waste Challenge and help Saskatoon move Towards 70% waste diversion by 2023 at saskatoon.ca/wastediversion. That means keeping waste out of the landfill by reusing, reducing, recycling and composting.

Learn more about the Landfill at saskatoon.ca/landfill.