The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is looking into York1’s proposed waste and recycling facility project in Dresden.
“On June 5, 2025, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change received a request to designate the Dresden Waste and Recycling Facility Project, proposed by York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd.” IAAC officials stated in their latest update posted on August 22, 2025.
“The IAAC is conducting an analysis and will make a recommendation to the President of IAAC on whether to designate the project under the Impact Assessment Act.”
The IAAC says York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd. is proposing to construct and operate a waste disposal and regenerative recycling facility, located in Dresden, Ontario.
“The proposed project includes alteration of an existing landfill that would hold up to 1.62 million cubic meters of non-hazardous solid construction and demolition waste within an 8-hectare footprint, with a maximum daily limit of 1,000 tonnes,” IAAC officials said.
“It also includes the expansion and alteration of an existing waste transfer station from 0.8 hectares to 25 hectares, to accept a maximum of 3,000 tonnes per day of recyclable materials and 1,000 tonnes per day of non-hazardous solid waste materials, including construction and demolition wastes and uncontaminated soil and soil-like materials.”
The Canadian Environmental Law Association, on behalf of Dresden Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal (Dresden C.A.R.E.D.), were the group who requested the designation and sent a letter to the Minister.
“This request is being made on the grounds that the Project may cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction and that there is widespread public and Indigenous concern about such effects,” Canadian Environmental Law Association officials stated in their letter to the Minister.
The concerns they listed, include
– Potential adverse impacts on aquatic species at risk and their habitat
– Potential adverse impacts on terrestrial species at risk
– Potential adverse impacts on migratory birds and their habitat
– Potential adverse impacts on inland fisheries and fish habitat
– Potential adverse impacts to Indigenous peoples and the lands reserved for them, including their public health, culture, wellbeing, traditional foods, resource-based activities, and watercourses that flow from the proposed site of the Project toward Walpole Island First Nation.
Read their full letter to the Minister, here.
Comments can be made to the IAAC by emailing dresden@iaac-aeic.gc.ca.
Dresden C.A.R.E.D. officials are encouraging people to send in their comments.
“On how York1 proposal of putting a landfill/recycling/soil washing/break down of asbestos contaminated construction materials/low carbon fuel manufacturing etc. on our town line is not acceptable,” Dresden C.A.R.E.D. officials said on social media.
“It’s just like when we filled out our Provincial ERO’s but this will be our voices speaking to the Federal Environment Minister.”
Stay up to date on the IAAC analysis, here.
