ECCO’s landfill received dry, non-hazardous construction and demolition waste. This included material from the construction, renovation and demolition of buildings rather than household garbage or organic waste. Private landfills, like the one ECCO operated, help divert waste from publicly operated and funded landfills and helps extend their operating lifecycle.
The landfilling use at ECCO’s site commenced at a time when the immediate area was largely heavy industry, including a former explosives factory and a rock quarry – hence the name “Quarry Park”. In fact, much of the lands lying east of 24th Street SE (ECCO’s location) remain largely medium and heavy industrial uses. The landfill is no longer receiving new waste for disposal. Work at the landfill now relates to fire response, stabilization, closure and reclamation.
Closing a landfill is an active and carefully managed process. It requires trained operators, heavy equipment, internal movement and grading of existing material, soil placement, slope stabilization, environmental monitoring and coordination with municipal and provincial regulators.
Trucks and equipment moving within the landfill are not evidence that new waste is being accepted. Existing material must be moved and graded to stabilize the site and establish its final contours. Soil must also be brought to the property to suppress the current fire, cover existing material and complete closure work.
Walking away from the property would not safely close the landfill. The existing material would remain in place without the equipment, operators, monitoring and coordinated work needed to stabilize and reclaim it.