The Ontario Environment Ministry is looking to hear the public’s opinion on a proposed environmental assessment for a landfill site north of Dresden that has provoked concern and outrage throughout the municipality.
The ministry has posted a notice on the Environmental Registry of Ontario website in an effort to garner feedback on a proposal that would require York1 Environmental Waste Solutions to complete a comprehensive environmental assessment prior to proceeding with its plans to reopen and expand a dormant landfill on Irish School Road.
The ministry said the proposal was made as a result of significant public interest in York1’s proposed project and the environmental concerns raised, regarding potential impacts to species at risk, groundwater, surface water, increased truck traffic, odour, and other possible impacts to the local community.
The local landfill site that has not been in operation since the 1980s
“An environmental assessment has never been completed for this site because the landfill predates Ontario’s environmental assessment requirements for landfills,” the ministry said in its online notice. “We recognize the potential impact that a landfill of this size could have on the local residents and the surrounding environment.”
Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin initially made an announcement last week that the ministry would be taking steps to ensure an environmental assessment moves forward under the Environmental Assessment Act.
York1, which owns the property on Irish School Road, has made two applications to the Environment Ministry to amend the existing waste processing site Environmental Compliance Approval for a 35-hectare waste disposal site with an 8-hectare landfilling area and a 0.8-hectare waste processing site. The proposed amendments to the waste processing facility are also seeking to allow a maximum daily receiving rate of 6,000 tonnes per day of non-hazardous solid waste and 1,000 tonnes per day of residual waste for final disposal on an annual average basis. The amendments would also allow the landfill to operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
York1 has also purchased 300 acres of farmland surrounding the property.
Those interested in providing their comments on the ministry’s proposal for an environmental assessment can do so by clicking here. Comments must be submitted by May 10.
