Twin Creeks landfill expansion sparks push-back from Warwick Township over environmental concerns

A line of trucks waits to drop off materials at the Twin Creek Landfill near Watford, Ont. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)

The Township of Warwick is voicing significant concerns over a proposed major expansion of the Twin Creeks Landfill, operated by Waste Management Canada (WM Canada).

While WM Canada has submitted its Environmental Assessment (EA) to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) seeking approval, the township argues that critical environmental issues remain unaddressed, potentially placing undue risk on surrounding communities.

The proposed expansion, detailed in a letter from Warwick Township, involves a substantial vertical expansion of the landfill.

If approved, it would increase the current capacity by up to 14 million cubic metres, more than double the landfill’s current approved height to the equivalent of 24 storeys, and extend its operating life by a minimum of 12 years.

The Twin Creeks Landfill, one of Ontario’s largest, currently accepts approximately 1.3 million tonnes of waste annually and is expected to reach its existing capacity by 2031.

Peter Pickfield, a partner with Garrod Pickfield LLP, a firm specializing in environmental, municipal, and planning law, is coordinating the independent peer review of the EA on behalf of the Township of Warwick.

He explained that the township’s Peer Review Team (PRT), an independent panel of experts, has identified significant deficiencies in the study.

“There is no precedent in Ontario for a vertical landfill expansion of this scale,” Pickfield stated, adding, “Township residents should not be asked to bear the burden of risk for unexamined and unmitigated environmental impacts and operational unknowns.”

Key among the PRT’s concerns is the landfill’s capacity to manage the substantial additional loading from the proposed vertical expansion.

Pickfield highlighted the critical role of odor management and waste collection systems, including the leachate collection system designed to capture contaminated runoff.

“The concern is that our technical reviewers are saying that they haven’t properly addressed how that the pipe integrity would be maintained under this critical loading,” he noted. The PRT’s landfill engineering expert identified “key analytical deficiencies” in determining the impacts on leachate collection pipe performance.

Further issues flagged by the PRT include ongoing truck traffic, with an estimated 20 per cent of landfill-bound vehicles travelling through the nearby town of Watford.

The assessment also failed to adequately address dust impacts, with the PRT recommending a real-time dust monitoring program that WM Canada has reportedly ignored. Concerns about the impact on wildlife habitat and diversity, and the lack of proposed mitigation or enhancement measures, were also cited.

Waste Management Canada defended its EA submission, stating it represents “several years of comprehensive technical studies, environmental assessment work, and engagement with Indigenous communities, government agencies, local municipalities, community members and other interested parties.”

In a statement, WM Canada expressed confidence that the Ministry’s independent review will “carefully consider the technical information, along with public input before making a decision.”

The company encouraged public engagement with the EA materials and the comment period. They added that if approved, the expansion would operate under rigorous provincial regulations, including comprehensive environmental monitoring and oversight designed to protect local air, water, and the surrounding environment.

The EA Study Report is accessible online via the WM website and available for review at the Township Municipal Offices and Watford Public Library.

The public comment period is open until August 14, 2026. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their comments to Stephen Deneault at the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.