Expansion of the Evaplant® system (180,000 additional willows to naturally evaporate leachate from WM's engineered landfill in Sainte-Sophie)
WM and Ramo announce a major expansion of the Evaplant® system, a vegetated solution that naturally reduces leachate volumes through evapotranspiration (up to 51 million litres per year, the equivalent of 20 Olympic swimming pools).
Sainte-Sophie, Laurentides (Quebec), September 8, 2025. WM and Ramo are announcing a major expansion of the Evaplant® system, a vegetated solution that naturally reduces leachate volumes through evapotranspiration. After several years of conclusive results on a pilot plot, the project is now being deployed at a larger scale at WM's engineered landfill in Sainte-Sophie, making it possible to reduce water volumes by up to 51 million litres annually.
A natural technology, proven in the field
Leachate, produced when precipitation percolates through buried waste, is usually collected and then treated before being discharged into the environment. With Evaplant® technology, part of this water is instead redirected to a willow planting, irrigated intelligently through a patented technology that accounts for soil moisture and weather conditions.
The willow genetics selected were chosen for their ability to evapotranspire large quantities of water while capturing certain contaminants through their roots. The absorbed water is then naturally released as vapour, with no liquid discharge into the environment. This feature allows the Evaplant® system to produce no discharge into the environment, unlike traditional systems.
Developed by Ramo, Evaplant® technology has been in place since 2018 on a 1.1-hectare plot, as part of a pilot project carried out in collaboration with the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV) and Polytechnique Montréal. This first deployment confirmed the relevance of this approach (both natural and technological) for complex environments such as landfills.
A proven solution that scales up
Building on this successful experience, Ramo planted 180,000 additional willows over an area of 11 hectares. This expansion, carried out between 2024 and 2026, will make it possible to evapotranspire up to 51 million litres of leachate per year (the equivalent of 20 Olympic swimming pools).
At the same time, the willows will capture nearly 242 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually, equal to the carbon footprint generated by 1,075 vehicles each travelling 1,000 kilometres.
Quotes
"This project shows how Ramo's vegetated technologies can offer concrete solutions to industrial technical and environmental challenges. Thank you to WM for its commitment to being part of this shift."
"We are excited to continue our collaboration with Ramo and to multiply the environmental benefits at our facilities. The results of the Evaplant® system are tangible and impressive when you think about it. We are valorizing wastewater into fertilizer, an innovative circular-economy approach marked by real success."
About Ramo
Ramo, a specialist in nature-based environmental solutions, uses the willow (a fast-growing plant) to reduce wastewater, restore soils, capture carbon, valorize fertilizing residual materials and manufacture eco-products. Since 2006, Ramo has planted nearly 24 million willows across Canada and brings together a team of 80 passionate people dedicated to protecting and restoring the environment.
About WM
WM is the largest integrated residual materials management company in North America. Through its subsidiaries, it provides collection, transportation, recycling, recovery and disposal services. It is also a leader in the development, operation and ownership of biogas-to-energy facilities. Its clients come from the residential, commercial, industrial and municipal sectors across North America. In Quebec, WM employs some 300 skilled workers and professionals, including about 75 at the Sainte-Sophie site.
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