(Posted 12:30 p.m., Jan. 3)
Province approves terms for proposed recycling centre, landfill site near Carlsbad Springs
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

The battle over a proposed recycling centre and landfill site in the far east end is about to heat up once again after the province approved the terms of reference for an environmental assessment of the controversial project.

Taggart Miller Environmental Services (TMES) had planned to build a recycling centre and landfill site for industrial, commercial, institutional, construction and demolition waste, in Russell Township similar to the BFI Canada landfill site on Navan Road.

When local residents and the township council opposed the plan, TMES sought out an alternative site near Carlsbad Springs. Both proposed sites will be subject to the Environmental Assessment.

Approval of the terms of reference in no way equates to approval of the project. Taggart Miller Environmental Services must still prove that the site is both necessary and feasible. Even if the province does approve the facility, it would still require municipal rezoning to move forward which would also be open to a likely Ontario Municipal Board appeal.

Opponents of the proposal are concerned about possible water and air pollution, dust and noise from increased truck traffic, the risk to aggregate resources, and the potential devaluation of residential and farm property values.

The Environmental Assessment will look at all the above factors and quantify the potential impact of the facility at both proposed sites.

According to TMES, the EA could take up to a year to complete. In the meantime, residents plan to step up their opposition through their "Dump the Dump" campaign.

(This story was made possible thanks to their generous support of our local business partners.)

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