Negative feedback towards new development in N.S. community

A group of people on Nova Scotia’s South Shore are declaring not in my backyard.

They are concerned about a proposal that would see a new recycling facility built in the community of Blockhouse.

Dough Johnson runs a restaurant across the street from the site.

“We don’t want to be known as the restaurant across from the dump,” says Johnson. “Of course we have a patio and we're not sure what it's going to be like in the summertime when they're in full swing, grinding gyprock, where is that dust going to go?”

The recycling company hasn’t yet decided whether it will process gyprock at the facility, but it will be recycling wood and asphalt shingles.

People who live in the community worry that property values will decrease.

“I won't be staying here too long. Nope, I won't, because who's gonna live here,” says resident Ernie Bolivar.

Nancy Wentzell owns a used clothing store close to the site. She is also part of a group organizing a petition to stop the development.

“That will affect different things, when it comes to that, the environment, the air, the noise,” says Wentzell. “So it is a dump in my eyes.”

The owner of C and D Recycling, the company that is developing the site, is quick to point out that any material that can't be recycled will be taken to a licensed landfill. He also says there will never be more than 200 tonnes of material on the site.

“The people that want to call that a dump should really educate themselves before they shoot their mouths off,” says recycling company owner Dan Chassie.

Chassie says his plans for Blockhouse will be similar to a facility in Dartmouth.

“We have 75 jobs at our facilities and you know, with the amount of material we recycle, it's really disheartening to hear these people who won't give you an opportunity to show them the right story,” says Chassie.

Chassie has applied to the municipality for a development agreement. Residents have managed to stall the process for 30 days and say they won’t back down, but neither will the company.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell.