Gazing across this 192-hectare site, could you ever imagine what it once was? We are standing at the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex. It is a testament to Montreal’s commitment to environmental rehabilitation. This complex began its life as the Miron limestone quarry. In 1968, a giant landfill of 75 hectares was created here.
By 1984, the City of Montreal acquired the site. Their goal was ambitious to transform it into an environmental technology and education complex. Today, the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex stands as the second-largest green space in Montreal. Only Mount Royal Park is larger.
This transformation represents one of the most ambitious environmental restoration projects in North America. Since 2001, over 8000 visitors from 56 countries have visited this unique site. This includes many visitors from China and Europe. The Saint-Michel Environmental Complex was Montreal’s calling card at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
The Saint-Michel Environmental Complex is practically unknown to many Montrealers. However, it has become an example of successful repurposing in an urban environment. Eric Blain, Division Chief for the city of Montreal, calls it unique in the world.
Up to 16,000 tonnes of green waste are transformed into compost each year. This includes mostly autumn leaves. The compost is used to cover the mountain of waste and to meet the city’s horticultural needs. Montreal residents also receive some of this compost twice a year.
Since 2003, the National Circus School created TOHU. It has become a symbol of the environment. It is the first certified LEED green building in Quebec. TOHU is closely associated with the neighboring Gazmont factory.
Gazmont produces around 7 megawatts of electricity. This is enough to power 4000 homes. The electricity is produced from biogas extracted from the former dump. This is thanks to a 20-km network of pipelines. The biogas transforms water into steam to power turbines. In winter, this steam also heats TOHU.
Montrealers will have access to a new 1.5-km2 park starting in 2017. It is the biggest environmental rehabilitation project ever undertaken in Montreal. A two-meter layer of sand, geotextile membrane, and soil covers the waste.
You can catch a glimpse of the future park. Just walk along the 5-km trail loop which surrounds it. It offers an impressive view of grassy hills and small woods. It is located just a few hundred meters from the Metropolitan Autoroute.
The north-western section of the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex has a bluff lake. There are three retention basins on the site. Visitors can stroll through a discovery wooded area. They can also visit the wind plain. An amphitheater is dug into the ground, with space for hundreds of spectators.
Construction is slated to end in 2020. The configuration, proportions, and vegetation have all been conceived with this goal in mind. The Saint-Michel Environmental Complex is a symbol of renewal. It showcases how a city can transform a former environmental liability into a valuable asset.