10 Most Asked Questions

1. Why the name TUQ4?

The TUQ4 team felt there was a fundamental need to re-brand “urban development derived (UDD)” excess materials from site development and environmental remediation construction projects – concrete, block, brick, plastic, glass, wood, contaminated / excess soil and the like - as a ”resource” rather than a waste. They branded this Concept – to keep these materials out of landfills - ”The Urban Quarry (TUQ)” whereby these materials, in this case focused on contaminated soil waste (CSW), would be recycled for beneficial reuse - thus lessening the demand on landfill space and non-renewable pit and quarry natural resources.

Driven by the Four (4) Sustainability Principles and Circular Economy – “an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)” – movement, TUQ concept was born!

2. Who can I contact to find out more information about whether TUQ4 can help me manage my contaminated soil waste (CSW)?

If you would like to know how TUQ4 can assist you with sustainable management of your project contaminated soil waste (CSW), please contact us by:

  • Completing and submitting a Contact form;
  • Contacting TUQ4 via LinkedInTM with your contact and specific project details;
  • Sending an email to info@TUQ4.com;
  • Calling TUQ4 at 1-226-400-1720; or,
  • Mailing: TUQ4 at Project Inquiry, TUQ4 Inc., 3-304 Stone Rd. W., Unit 526, Guelph, Ontario N1G 4W4

3. Where is the TUQ4 Soil Recycling Facility (SRF) located?

The SRF is conveniently located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Canada / US (New York) border, the TUQ4 SRF address is 1036 Haldimand 3, Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada.

4. Who owns TUQ4?

TUQ4 is owned by a small entrepreneurial group passionate about Brownfield real estate, sustainability, environmental technology and the Circular Economy. The TUQ4 Facility business and operations are directed by a management and technical team with over 50 combined years of CSW management / recycling industry experience.

5. How is TUQ4 different than commercial contaminated soil treatment facilities currently operating in the market?

The key TUQ4 Soil Recycling Facility (SRF) differences are:

  • Approved to recycle for beneficial reuse, virtually any CSW from Canada or the United States, including those contaminated with PCB and currently non-regulated compounds such as PFAS;
  • A proprietary ”Soil2Reuse (S2RSM) Recyclability Evaluation Laboratory” (S2R Testing) where TUQ4 models the three approved technologies, individually or in combination, to optimize recycling success on the CSW received - it is a customized and NOT a "one-size-fits-all" approach;
  • Ability to receive ”emergency clean-up” CSW 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week - so you just found it and need to move it, contact us;
  • Removal and safe collection of non-soil materials present in the CSW received, such as chemical compounds/products, (such as petroleum hydrocarbons), metal, plastic, glass, concrete, brick, organics (wood, peat) and the like, and collection of these materials for beneficial reuse in the local recycling, energy-from-waste, and niche building material manufacturing communities;
  • A one hundred percent (100%) beneficial reuse stretch goal, we will initially recycle for beneficial reuse in the local community about eighty percent (80%) of the CSW received;
  • Safe collection and management of the "Contaminants of Concern" removed during recycling, and where possible these materials, such as petroleum hydrocarbons, are themselves recycled;
  • Receipt, storage and recycling of all CSW indoors in engineered buildings on a 4-hectare portion of the 10-hectare site designed to minimize impact on the environment; and,
  • Collection and recycling of all water that emanates from or encounters CSW, referred to as ”Contact Water ,” for use in the CSW recycling processes.

TUQ4‘s commitment to the Four Sustainability Principles finds us constantly searching the market to find alternatives to landfilling any of the produced materials from our operations and improving operational performance. The search is never-ending since the stretch goal is one hundred percent (100%) beneficial reuse of the materials received! To that end, the following sustainability initiatives are underway.

  • Engaging with the college / university / government research and construction building products communities to evaluate recovery of the following material from the CSW for use in comfort heating systems and/or biomass / biofuel / WTE electricity generation facilities:
    • Petroleum hydrocarbons
    • Process residuals in the WRU after PHC contaminated soil processing
    • Wood
    • Paper products / cardboard
    • Rubber
    • Plastic
    • Organics
    • Refuse / garbage
  • Cement production;
    • Fine-grained (<75um) soil
  • Building (brick, roofing tile) and landscape (tiles, blocks) material manufacturing:
    • Fine-grained (<75um) soil
  • Recycling / Reuse;
    • Glass
    • Metal
    • Plastic
    • Rubber
    • Wood
    • Cloth
    • Paper products / Cardboard
    • Concrete
    • Brick
    • Pavement / Asphalt
  • Environmental performance;
    • Evaluation of the benefits of implementing on-site renewable energy application; and
    • Sampling and testing of the site ecology to continuously improve facility conditions.

6. What does TUQ4 mean by “Sustainable Remediation” of CSW?

TUQ4 customers often ask whether it is possible to send their CSW to us, we recycle it and then return to them “clean” soil meeting their project-quality requirements? The simple answer is YES, we can – we call this our ” Sustainable Remediation” service!

The caveat is that this approach must make “Business Sense” for the customer and TUQ4.

Beyond financial, the customer “Business Sense” decision can include such things as:

  • Sustainability and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) goals and reporting considerations;
  • Corporate policies pertaining to operation Waste Reduction, Legal Implications and Risk Management; and,
  • TUQ4 facility use and customer project qualification for Green Building / LEED (Recyclability, Salvaged Content, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Construction Waste Management) credits.

7. What approvals does TUQ4 have to operate a CSW recycling facility in Ontario, Canada?

TUQ4 operates under Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) issued Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) Number A-500-2094980750 (Version: 1.0 / Issue Date: June 23, 2021).

8. What processes are used at the TUQ4 facility to recycle CSW?

In order to achieve TUQ4's desired CSW beneficial reuse rate, the following three Soil Recycling Unit (SRU) technologies are used at the SRF, individually or in combination, to indoor process the CSW received at the SRF.

  • Physical-Chemical-Biological (”PhysChemBio”) Wet-Processing
  • Stabilization
  • Heated Soil ”Hot BoxSM”

The SRU technologies are supported by a proprietary SRF Water Recycling Unit (WRU), allowing TUQ4 to recycle all Contact Water for reuse in the SRU processes.

9. What beneficial reuse products does TUQ4 produce from the CSW received?

One of the key elements, and our market / industry differentiator, is the high percentage of beneficial reuse materials to be generated meeting customer project requirements and making TUQ4 a valued member of its community.

The soil and soil-like materials to be produced from CSW received, meeting customer desired or ECA defined environmental quality standards for beneficial reuse, are to include:

  • "Processed Soil" that is less than 2 mm in diameter, or passes the US #10 sieve;
  • "Processed Granular / Aggregate” that is greater than or equal to 2 mm in diameter, or does not pass the US #10 sieve, and not greater than 60 mm in diameter; and,
  • ”Processed Oversize” that is greater than 60 mm in diameter.

In addition to the processed soil and soil-like material described above, the SRF shall also produce for beneficial reuse non-soil like materials as described in the answer to Question 5.

10. What benefit does TUQ4 provide to the local community?

Benefits to the local community include:

  • For similar or lower price, diversion of CSW from non-sustainable landfilling to recycling for beneficial reuse;
  • Production of clean recycled soil and soil-like material lessening the demand on excess soil stores or virgin, non-renewable pit and quarry materials;
  • “Essential service” environmental jobs.

Numerous local business services are also used directly by TUQ4 in support of the Facilities development, construction and operation, including:

  • Lawyers
  • Consultants
  • Engineers
  • Accountants
  • Financial institution(s)
  • Telecommunications
  • IT/IS
  • Waste management
  • Recyclers
  • Trucking / Transportation
  • Construction and systems operation contractors
  • Heavy equipment
  • Vehicle and equipment repair
  • Material, equipment, & parts suppliers
  • Analytical laboratories and testing
  • Facility maintenance

Clients / customers that shall use the Facility to manage CSW include:

  • Consultants
  • Contractors
  • Land Developers
  • Local, Provincial and Federal Government Ministry’s, Departments, Agencies
  • Institutions / Businesses / Industry