(Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Environmentally minded

Town trying canola-based dust suppressant as more efficient method

Apr 20, 2021 | 6:14 PM

The Town of Battleford will try a new method to better control the dust on a number of roads and be environmentally-friendly at the same time.

Council approved a recommendation for the purchase and application of the canola-based dust suppressant on 5 Ave. W. , Hwy. 40 – Telegraph Rd., Service Rd. Hwy. 4 – intersection of 4 Ave. W. and 13 St. The remainder of the load will be used on a couple of higher traffic areas that the town currently uses a calcium chloride application.

Mayor Ames Leslie said the town has been using calcium chloride for dust control for a few years but wanted to try a product that might be more efficient.

“If the canola is done properly it should be a one-time application for the year,” he said.

Leslie said hopefully it can be a solution that is more sustainable. The canola-based product is made from used canola oil.

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“[It’s] a recycle, reuse type of approach as well, and doesn’t have as negative an impact to the environment,” he said.

Administration recommended the canola-based product, although it comes at a higher cost.

The cost of one load of the canola-based dust suppressant supplied and applied is $15,500.

Leslie said it’s about $7,000 for dust control using calcium chloride.

CAO Ash Alam confirmed this is only a partial cost of the town’s total full budget for dust suppressant for the year.

Council members were in favour of the idea of testing the canola-based product, while still using calcium chloride on some roads.

“I think it’s basically just a trial for us to be able to give it a go, and see if we have some better luck and longevity out of this product as opposed to the calcium. But still have a few streets we are going to do with that [calcium chloride] as well,” Coun. Doug Laing said. “I think it’s fairly straight forward.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW