With recent news that a waste site just north of Dresden is looking at expanding, North Kent councillor Jamie McGrail brought the issue to Chatham-Kent council on Monday night.
As it is early in the process, there are a lot of unknowns in what the future holds for the property.
York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd. filed a proposal to the province last week to expand its operations at 29831 Irish School Road. According to the application, the property been used as an approved landfill and waste processing/transfer site.
The proposed amendment to the waste processing facility is an increase in the area of the waste processing site to 25 hectares and to allow a maximum daily receiving rate of 7,000 tonnes per day of waste on an annual average basis. The proposed amendment also is to allow operations at the waste processing site 24 hours per day and seven days per week.
McGrail wanted to know what Chatham-Kent’s role is in the proposed expansion to the property.
Bruce McAlister, Chatham-Kent’s general manager of community development, said the site has been a waste site for about the last four decades and it was sold a few years ago. McAlister said they did talk with the new owners a few years ago but hadn’t heard anything from the site until last week when they received the notice about the proposed expansion. Currently, the land is zoned and designated as a waste management site.
“We need some further time to gather information and review,” McAlister said, noting the municipality will look at what their next steps will be in the upcoming weeks.
McGrail asked about having a town hall meeting to share information with residents. McAlister said it would be a good idea once it’s understood what the proposal is.
McGrail said it’s important that a deep dive is done researching the proposal and getting the correct facts about the property, as well as getting the right answers that residents are looking for.
Residents can comment on the proposal online on the province’s environmental registry until March 16. CLICK HERE for more information.
