Industrial contamination negatively impacts peatland function (like carbon sequestration) and biodiversity, with sulfur and trace metals (such as copper and nickel) being toxic to plants at high concentrations. In Sudbury, Ontario, thousands of hectares of peatlands suffered almost complete vegetation loss from metal and sulfur pollution. Despite successful forest restoration since the 1970s, peatlands remain species-poor with no Sphagnum cover and dominated by Chamaedaphne calyculata. Restoration is needed to re-establish Sphagnum that sustains peatland carbon sequestration by facilitating waterlogged and anoxic conditions that constrain decomposition and promote peat formation. However, successful restoration techniques, like the moss layer transfer technique (MLTT), were developed for non-contaminated peatlands. As a first step to developing a restoration technique suitable for contaminated peatlands, we are evaluating peatland plant re-establishment in three different in-field techniques initiated June 2024, which are: 1) MLTT, which involves tilling, applying donor plant material, fertilizer, and straw mulch; 2) Modified MLTT with no tilling; 3) Buffer, the Modified MLTT with 5cm of “clean” peat to act as a chemical buffer; and 4) Control. Additionally, we conducted a greenhouse experiment using peat monoliths testing these treatments over a six-month period. The greenhouse experiment showed no significant difference in Sphagnum cover, but MLTT had the highest median cover (69.5%). The Buffer had less vascular plant cover than the MLTT, while the Modified MLTT had the greatest C. calyculata leaf area. The greenhouse experiment results indicate the MLTT may be more successful for Sphagnum growth and that vascular plants may not hinder Sphagnum establishment.