A citizen group opposing a proposed landfill site near Dresden is making sure local residents have the help they need to voice their concerns to the provincial government.
The group Dresden Together will be hosting a public meeting at the Old Czech Hall on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The event will provide a short information recap of another public meeting that was held by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent on Monday, informing residents about local efforts to oppose plans to re-establish and expand waste processing operations at 29831 Irish School Rd.
Wendy Vercauteren, a member of Dresden Together, said volunteers will be available on Wednesday to assist residents who wish to submit their comments to the province through the Environmental Registry of Ontario website.
The deadline to make a submission is May 17.
“I know that there’s a number of people that are posting every day. We just need to make sure that when we’re posting comments we make sure we have all the information or as much information [as possible]. And make it personal, make it through you, what is this going to do for me, how is this going to impact me?”
The Ontario government announced new legislation last month, which proposes removing comprehensive environmental assessment (EA) requirements for the property near Dresden to allow Mississauga-based company York1 Waste Solutions to move forward with the development of the landfill.
Vercauteren said Chatham-Kent already has a landfill within the municipality and it does not need a second.
“Why does Chatham-Kent need to be the host of another landfill? The province of Ontario is huge. There’s lots of other places in the province that could host a landfill that isn’t on the doorstep of a residential community,”
For more information about Chatham-Kent opposition to reopening the dormant landfill near Dresden, visit DefendDresden.ca.
