The local council gives the green light for gravel mining and landfill in Ermenswil

The local council gives the green light for gravel mining and landfill in Ermenswil

At its current meeting, the Ermenswil local council approved gravel mining and the associated landfill in the Sonnenfeld area. This was done as part of the participation in the cantonal special use plan, which was transferred to the cantonal level due to a fundamental decision by the construction and environmental department of the canton of St.Gallen. A participation process for this project took place for the first time in 2019. But now the process has been carried out again under the leadership of the cantonal office for spatial development and geoinformation.

The plans for the landfill provide for the acceptance of uncontaminated excavated material (Type A) and inert materials (Type B). From mid-June to mid-August 2025, the special use plan “Sonnenfeld Stages 1–3, Ermenswil – mining and landfill type A and type B” was subject to the cantonal participation process. The local council has taken a generally positive stance towards this project, but has made important demands in order to protect the interests of the community and local residents.

Demands of the local council

The local council's central demands include aspects such as traffic management, pollution control for the village of Ermenswil and safety for pedestrians. Particularly important is the payment of services to the local community, as well as regulations in the operating regulations for future gravel mining. The municipality wants to ensure that the dismantling does not have a negative impact on the quality of life of the residents.

The importance of gravel mining for the region is often underestimated. As planquadrat.ch explains, the supply of mineral raw materials is crucial for infrastructure and economic growth. Environmentally friendly and economical mining is of central importance. Mining sites should therefore be filled with excavated material and then professionally recultivated in order to make the areas available for agriculture.

Cantonal participation and next steps

The future steps in the process now depend on the results of the cooperation and the subsequent approvals. Further information on the current status and procedural details can be found on the Canton of St.Gallen website. The ongoing procedures of the cantonal special use plan are comprehensively documented there in order to ensure transparency for citizens ( sg.ch ).

The discussion about gravel mining in Ermenswil is an example of how communities are trying to find the balance between economic interests and the protection of local communities. The coming months will be crucial in determining how the project develops.