On Sunday November 17th the Professional Engineers Organization Ottawa Chapter hosted an Innovation Challenge.  The challenge centered on solutions for tailings and mine waste management.  Considering that Canada has over 7000 abandoned, neglected, terminated and inactive mineral sites, dealing with mine wastes and tailings is a real challenge for both mining companies and governments.

Solutions pitched included the implementation of biofilm to reduce sulphur, the adding of polymer to tailings to provide more stability, and the recovery of coal tailings and processing to produce a green fuel source for steel producers.  All the presenters did a great job explaining the problems their solutions addressed.  A panel of experienced judges asked further questions about the science and economics behind each innovation.  

The first place innovation took home the $1200 prize money.  Big thanks go out to the University of Ottawa, Terrapure Environmental and Carlton University for sponsoring the event.  Major Reclaim staff attended in the hope of implementing some of these cutting-edge innovations along with our partners in the mining industry.