A notice of motion by a Chatham-Kent Councillor will draw more pressing attention, after the Ministry of the Environment announced recently they are removing the environmental assessment requirements for the proposed York1 dump site near Dresden.
North Kent Councillor Rhonda Jubenville will bring forward a motion at the April 28 council meeting reaffirming municipal opposition to a proposed waste facility near Dresden.
Jubenville’s motion cites community and environmental concerns tied to a previously proposed waste processing, transfer and landfill site at 29831 Irish School Road.
The site was owned by York1 Waste Solutions until its sale on Feb. 4, 2025, Jubenville said.
Jubenville’s motion asks council to maintain its opposition to the property being used for waste-related operations, citing potential impacts to nearby residents, infrastructure and the natural environment.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks announced on Thursday, April 17, 2025 they are removing the environmental assessment requirements for the York1 waste disposal site project through the proposed Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025.
“To help provide additional waste capacity in Ontario due to the threat of US tariffs impacting Ontario’s waste sector, the province is proposing to remove environmental assessment (EA) requirements for the York1 waste project through the proposed Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025,” Ministry officials say.
“This would include revoking Ontario Regulation 284/24 designating Chatham-Kent Waste Disposal Site and removing environmental assessment (EA) requirements for York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd.’s proposal to resume landfill operations and expand waste handling, processing, and transfer operations at the former Dresden Tile Yard, in Chatham-Kent (the Project).”
Ministry officials added the proposed legislation, if passed, would:
– Revoke Ontario Regulation 284/24: Designation – Chatham-Kent Waste Disposal Site, which designates the Project as a Part II.3 project requiring a comprehensive environmental assessment; and
– Amend the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) to exempt the Project from other EA requirements.
“The 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),” Ministry officials say.
York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd. is proposing to build an 8-hectare engineered landfill cell and re-establish landfill operations at an existing landfill site, including construction of any other works or facilities such as onsite roads, and fencing to receive waste and restart waste management activities and landfilling at the site, located at 29831 Irish School Road, in the former Township of Camden, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Ministry officials say.
“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,” Ministry officials say.
“As part of the project, York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd. is also proposing to re-establish and expand waste processing and transfer operations at the site, including expanding the existing 0.8-hectare waste processing site to 25 hectares.”
Ministry officials added other activities are also anticipated, 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 storm water management infrastructure
Ministry official added 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.
“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 for the landfill site, as well as the processing and transfer facility,” Ministry officials say.
“If the legislation is passed, it would come into effect on Royal Assent.”
A public comment period opens on April 17, 2025 and will be open for 30 days until May 30, 2025.
To provide a comment, click here.
In response to the news, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent issued a media release stating they would fight the proposed legislation.
“Last week, we received some very disturbing news from the Province,” Mayor Darrin Canniff posted on social media.
“There was legislation tabled last Thursday that would remove environmental assessment (EA) requirements for the proposed dump in Dresden to resume landfill operations and expand waste handling, processing, and transfer operations at the property.”
“We need to come together as a community to fight this. I’m asking you today to reach out to your MPP, the Minister of the Environment and the Premier. This is a fight for Dresden, this is a fight for Chatham-Kent, this is fight for our schools, our environment, our children, and our futures.”
Council has 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 that property.
Through several submissions to the Province, and due in part to the strong community opposition to this proposal, the Provincial Minister of the Environment approved a regulation (Ontario Regulation 284/24) that required a full Environmental Assessment for this property.
As a result of that decision, any use for a waste facility would have required thorough environmental assessment, including detailed opportunities for public comment.
“It appears that the Province is now changing course on this waste facility proposal,” Municipal officials added.
“The legislation tabled today would revoke Ontario Regulation 284/24 and remove environmental assessment (EA) requirements for the proposal to resume landfill operations and expand waste handling, processing, and transfer operations at the property.”
Expert lawyers and engineers are already retained and are working to develop a strategy to oppose this waste facility proposal, Municipal officials added.
As the situation develops, Municipal officials say they will provide regular updates and information through the existing Let’s Talk page at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/dresden-waste-processing-site-and-landfill.
We’ll provide more details when they become available.
