Since its creation, the Remediation Technologies Program has performed 30 demonstrations using innovative technologies for remediation of contaminated sediment. The demonstrations were varied and took place in specific Canadian AOCs between 1990 and 1996. A total of 22 were conducted using different innovative technologies for sediment removal and treatment under various site conditions. An underwater capping demonstration was performed in Hamilton Harbour in 1995, the first such demonstration in the Great Lakes basin. Under certain conditions, this procedure may eliminate the need for removal and treatment.

For most of these projects, the RTP established partnerships with polluters, such as cities, regional municipalities, private industries, users, and governments and non-governmental agencies. These partnerships proved to be not only beneficial but essential to the full success of a demonstration. In order to evaluate a technology, operational and performance standards were developed. These guidelines ensured environmental compliance and tested the commercial viability of a technology.

In 1993, the RTP emphasized its support for commercialization of tested remediation technologies by matching appropriate technologies to specific problems. As a result, several technologies were awarded contracts by industries and government agencies. In 1993, the Cable Arm Environmental Clamshell was used commercially by Ontario Hydro in Pickering (Ontario). The Cable Arm was selected by Dow Chemicals in 1996 for an emergency sediment cleanup in the St. Clair River in Sarnia (Ontario). Transport Canada used the Pneuma Pump to dredge sediment in Collingwood Harbour (Ontario) in 1993. Treatment technologies such as Grace Dearborn's bio-remediation and Eco Logic were also used commercially. Other groundbreaking technologies such as the Amphibex and Derrick Screening process were awarded commercial contracts.

Building on the knowledge and experience gained over the years, the Remediation Technology Program launched a commercial product in 1996. Based on information compiled from vendors and developers world-wide, RTP developed a user-friendly computer directory called SEDTEC. This directory lists some 250 technologies, both Canadian and international, currently in use for removal and treatment of contaminated sediment, soil and sludge. SEDTEC assists remediation project managers to design a proper cleanup strategy and provides information on the best technologies available world-wide, including case studies based on the RTP's demonstrations.

The technology demonstrations undertaken by the RTP have proved that innovative solutions exist to sediment contamination problems in ports, harbours and degraded fish and wildlife habitats throughout the world. In addition, they illustrate that an integrated federal-provincial-municipal-industry effort to find solutions can be both efficient and cost effective. By tackling these problems, the Cleanup Fund's RTP works in concert with the federal government's Canadian Environmental Industry Strategy which is committed to promoting environmental technologies, products and services as a major component of Canada's vision for healthy, sustainable economic growth.