Pilot an Initiative to Recycle/Repurpose Non-Renewable Resources for Quarry (Mine) Applications

On-going

Way Forward Commitment:

By March 31, 2018, our Government will develop and launch a pilot project to improve recycling and utilization of non-renewable resources such as road base and sub-base, concrete, asphalt and mine tailings for use in various other applications. In particular, these non-renewable resources will be repurposed for quarry applications, such as use as quarry material and/or to support the rehabilitation of abandoned quarry sites. As part of this pilot, we will identify a priority list of sites requiring rehabilitation and coordinate work efforts with residents/companies to implement recycling initiatives. The results of the pilot project will be used to establish criteria for future program development.

What We’ve Accomplished:

  • The Department of Natural Resources (NR) has worked with a company and the Environmental Assessment Division of the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment (MAE) on a plan to repurpose kelp derived from St. Bride’s Harbour in a quarry permit authorized by NR. The project was registered for environmental assessment and two NR staff supported the company through participation on an environmental preview committee to determine the impact of using kelp for the rehabilitation of quarries. NR will be involved in any monitoring of the quarry rehabilitation as it progresses.
  • NR is currently partnering with the MAE and a local company to develop a project that involves using remediated soils for rehabilitation in a local quarry area and diverting the soil from the local approved landfill. The soil will be used to backfill a portion of a road reservation that connects several individual quarry sites.