"In late January, Toronto was hit with what many experts said was the heaviest single day of snowfall in the city's history. In some spots, nearly 23in fell, driven in part by a collision of weather systems. The city had already removed 264,000 tonnes of snow from 1,100 km (680 miles) of roads, sidewalks and bike lanes by mid-February."
"It is simply piles upon piles of snow, mixed with a toxic cocktail of road salt, antifreeze, oil, coffee cups and lost keys. It is the final resting place for the forces of nature that have battered the city in recent weeks and a daunting environmental hazard."
"It can hold 144,000 cubic metres of snow on its two acres. Reaching nearly 100ft – the height of a 10-storey building – it resembles an Italian marble quarry, with yellow excavators moving in unison against the ashy snow. Plumes of steam rise from industry melters – contraptions roughly the size and shape of a shipping container which slowly reduce the size of the mountain over time."
Toronto experienced record-breaking snowfall in late January, with nearly 23 inches falling in some areas, requiring removal of 264,000 tonnes of snow from roads and sidewalks. Similar severe winter storms affected other major cities like New York. Unable to leave snow on urban streets, cities truck accumulated snow to storage facilities on their outskirts. Toronto established six snow mountains, with one visible site holding 144,000 cubic metres of snow reaching nearly 100 feet high. These mountains contain hazardous materials including road salt, antifreeze, oil, and debris. Industrial melters operate continuously, sometimes 24/7 during storms, to gradually reduce the snow piles and manage this environmental challenge.
#snow-removal #environmental-pollution #urban-winter-management #extreme-weather #contamination-hazards
Read at www.theguardian.com
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