Oshawa Landfill Slope Stability Pilot

Project using Filtrexx Slope

Stabilization Technology

Cassie Scobie Ron Bisaillon

Waste Management Technician Organic Express
Region of Durham Filtrexx Canada
DURHAM REGION
Ontario, Canada

The Region of Durham was

established in 1974

Borders Toronto to the east

2,537 sq. km (980 sq. mi.)

Population (2012) - 644,910

Comprised of eight area

municipalities
 The Region is
Responsible for
Seven Natural
Attenuation Landfills

Closed Sites:

Brock LF- closed 2014

Blackstock LF closed 1976
Darlington LF closed 1987
Oshawa LF closed 1980
Scugog LF closed 1992
Scott LF closed 1995
Whitby LF closed 1979
 Oshawa Landfill
Located in Highly Urbanized Area
 Oshawa Landfill
Size: 34 ha (84 acres)
Opened: 1960s
Closed: 1979

Natural
Attenuation site
Built in a series of
abandoned sand
and gravel pits
Post Closure
Report completed
for the site
Oshawa creek
borders the site
to the north and
west
Operating waste
transfer station
on site
Old City landfill
on opposite side
of street
 The Problem

The landfill is situated on

sandy soil overlying
dense lacustrine clay.
(Deep aquifer)
The clay layer is covered
by a surficial sandy layer,
and then a thin layer of
topsoil. (Shallow Aquifer)
Groundwater flows
through the top sand
layer and the iron
oxidizes when it comes in
contact with air.
 Seep B, Area 1
July 2012
In 2012, the Ministry of the (Looking south east)
Environment received a complaint
about an orange substance running
into the creek.
This area had been identified in past
monitoring reports as Seep B.
These iron levels are not a health
related parameter and are found
naturally in many areas of Oshawa
creek.
A fast solution was needed to cover
the staining. The Region decided to
do this using a bio remediation
approach, in line with the
recommendations from the post
closure plan.
 Seep B, Area 1
September 2012

(Looking south) Base Stabilization

using existing
Concrete & Brick
Debris

Sediment
Control Fencing
(Looking south west)
Upper Terrace & Plantings

Geogrid Material
Willow Stakes

Green wall plantings

Sediment Control
Concrete & Brick Fencing
Debris
 Seep B, Area 1
Before & After Sept 2012 repair
Before (Spring 2012) After (November 2012)

(Looking south)
 Seep B, Area 1
June 2013
(Looking south east)

Matting slumped

Vegetation slowly coming back

Fabric slumped in the area to the east and had to be repaired
Iron staining is coming through the matting
Location Map
 Seep B, Area 2
April 2014
(Looking southwest)

The project area expanded due to staining and erosion issues.

 Seep B, Area 3
April 2015
(Looking south west)

Close up of Area 3
 Live staking using native
Stream was diverted to allow a more gradual slope
willow and dogwoods were
installed on part of the
Eroded areas were filled in.
slope as a pilot to evaluate
the effectiveness of their
use up the slope.
 Project Began
August 5, 2015
All work
was done
from the top
of the slope
with the use
of an
excavator
with a 60
reach, and
customized
shovel
controls.

Topsoil,
sand and
clay were
stockpiled
(Looking south east)
 Seep B, Area 1

New creek bed

has been
established and
now reapplying
the sand to
create a
drainage layer.

(Looking south east)

 Seep B, Area 1

Area 1
being
completed
with only
sand

Area 2 will
use sand
and clear
stone

(Looking south)
 Installing Geogrid &
FilterSoxxTM to Area 1 & 2

(Looking south west)

A blower truck is used to fill the GrowsoxxTM. The growth media and any type of
seed mixture is blown into the SoxxTM and this allows for a custom fit to the site.

The GrowthMediaTM is a derivative of locally sourced compost from the Regions

green bin program.
 Geogrid wraps back
around the FilterSoxx TM

(Looking south)

A layer of cobbles were applied at the base of the creek as requested by the local
Conservation Authority to protect the fish from the Geogrid
Anchors were then installed
A GrowthMediaTM blanket is then applied above the FilterSoxxTM
 In Situ Pilot
Area 3
Added on to
initial Area 1
& 2 design.
Area 3 was
to be used
an in situ
test area
with no
grading at
all.
 Area 3

Some of the tree

cover was
removed to allow
more sunlight to
the area

FilterSoxxTM were
installed directly
to the slope with
a drainage layer
of HPB (High
Permeable
Bedding) blown in
behind the
SoxxTM
 Area 1, 2 & 3

Sept 14, 2015 Sept 25, 2015

 Area 1, 2 & 3

March 22, 2016

Oct 30, 2015
Before and After
 Next Steps

The Region will:

retain a consulting firm to conduct a Geomorpholgy

study of the entire creek area as there are several other
locations with similar issues at the site.

monitor this pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness of

the FiltrexxTM products for slope erosion and mitigating
the iron seepage for use in other areas of the landfill.
 Using Landfill Diversion to Fix
a Landfill Problem
Cassie Scobie Ron Bisaillon
Waste Management Technician President of Filtrexx Canada
Region of Durham Organic Express

Clarington, Ontario Paris, Ontario

Canada Canada

(905) 404-0888 ext. 4108 (519) 720-0890

cassie.scobie@durham.ca info@organic-express.ca

www.durham.ca www.organic-express.ca