The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is reporting that the province is changing course and plans to remove environmental assessment (EA) requirements for the proposed landfill in Dresden.
The municipality said it was made aware of the reversal on Thursday, adding the provincial government has tabled legislation through Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 that, if passed, will expand capacity at the planned waste facility north of Dresden on Irish School Road.
Details of the proposed legislation to remove the EA requirements for the York1 waste disposal project were posted by the province on Thursday, stating the need for additional waste capacity in Ontario due to the threat of U.S. tariffs impacting Ontario’s waste sector.
CK Mayor Darrin Canniff and Council have unanimously opposed the waste facility proposal and passed a motion in February of 2024 directing staff to make submissions to the province to require a full environmental assessment for any waste facility on the Irish School Road property.
The Minister of the Environment approved a regulation last year (Ontario Regulation 284/24) that required a full EA for the property. However, the legislation tabled on Thursday would revoke Ontario Regulation 284/24 and remove EA requirements, meaning the York1 proposal could be allowed to resume landfill operations and expand waste handling, processing, and transfer operations at the property.
The municipality said Mayor Canniff, Council, and municipal administration are prepared to fight this waste facility proposal, adding expert lawyers and engineers have already been retained and are working to develop a strategy to oppose this waste facility proposal.
“We are extremely concerned about the recently announced direction the Province is considering regarding environmental assessments,” said Mayor Canniff. “I would like to make it very clear: myself, Council, and the community of Chatham-Kent will continue to fight with every tool available to us against both the new legislative direction and the proposed waste facility.”
The public comment period for this proposed legislation is open for 30 days to May 17, 2025.
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The province said the waste facility project will remain subject to "strong" provincial oversight and other regulatory requirements including Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA) under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA).
York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd. is proposing to build an 8-hectare landfill and re-establish operations, including construction of any other works or facilities such as onsite roads and fencing to receive waste.
The existing landfill site has a theoretical approved capacity of 1,620,000 cubic metres to landfill non-hazardous solid waste, including construction and demolition waste and excess soil that are not reusable, according to the province.
York1 is also proposing expanding the existing 0.8-hectare waste processing site to 25 hectares along with other activities, including:
- the construction of a new processing and sorting building capable of indoor storage
- the addition of waste classes for accepted and processed waste
- installation of stationary equipment for processing construction and demolition waste into alternative low-carbon fuels (ALCF) in the new processing/sorting building
- placement of mobile diesel-powered shredding/grinding equipment for wood/construction & demolition waste outdoors
- installation of a soil treatment/soil washing system for processing solid and liquid soil to recover sand and aggregate material
- construction of stormwater management infrastructure
The provincial government also noted there are existing ECAs under the EPA for the site, which allow for an 8-hectare landfilling area and for a 0.8-hectare waste processing site within the 35-hectare property.
Provincial officials said modifications to the waste disposal site will be subject to ECA requirements for air, noise emissions, waste management activities, and sewage works under the EPA and OWRA.