Mayor Fred Eisenberger and MPP Ted McMeekin were joined by officials from Hamilton's public works department at a celebration last week marking the completion of a $15 million rehabilitation of 10 former landfills. The event was held at the entrance to Kay Drage Park, a former landfill site, and marked the completion of the final element of the closed landfills rehabilitation.

The Assessment and Rehabilitation of Former Landfills Project was funded through the City of Hamilton and the Province of Ontario's Millennium Partnership Fund. The city and the province equally shared the $15 million cost. Since 2003, 10 former landfill sites have been remediated, including 87 Acre Park, Ancaster, Beverly, Binbrook, Dundas, Edgewood, Glanford, Stoney Creek, Upper Ottawa and West Hamilton.

"Completion of this project represents a major step in Hamilton's commitment to protect and preserve our environment," said Mayor Eisenberger. "We are grateful to the Province of Ontario's for its funding support of the rehabilitation of these former landfills."

"It is vital to protect our precious environment and resources, to be enjoyed for generations to come," said MPP McMeekin, minister of government services and MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale.

Hamilton's general manager of public works scott Stewart, said 10 former landfills existed before environmental controls were developed to protect the surrounding environment.

"Through diligent monitoring and a sustained commitment to environmental stewardship, Hamilton's public works department continues to ensure a healthy and safe environment for the people of Hamilton," he said.

Remediation of the east bank of Chedoke Creek involved revegetation of the area, installation of hard slope protection and the addition of a leachate collection system. Remediation of the adjacent West Hamilton former landfill included storm sewer replacement, regrading and recapping. In addition, improvements to existing baseball diamonds and soccer fields were made at Kay Drage Park atop the former landfill.