‘Not a traditional landfill’: Toronto waste company maintains Dresden proposal is not for household waste

York1 says the proposed dump won’t accept residential waste. CTV Windsor’s Michelle Maluske reports.

York1 Environmental Waste Solutions wants to “update” the existing landfill for recycling of non-hazardous constructions and demolition materials.

The project is included in Bill 5: Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy.

If approved by MPPs, Bill 5 will exempt York1’s plans from an environmental assessment.

“The proposed changes to the site will still be required to undergo strict environmental oversight including Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA) under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA),” York1 spokesperson Laryssa Waler said in a statement Monday.

“The proposed changes to the site will actually help improve the environmental footprint of the site and bring it up to current standards, while creating many local good jobs and spin off economic activity.”

When asked outright if household garbage would be processed at the site, Waler responded: “I’m not sure why you think that this site will take household waste. It won’t. It’s for construction and demolition debris.”

Confusing words?

When announcing Bill 5 on April 17, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said “40 per cent of waste from companies and people are heading to the U.S.”

The Premier said they are concerned U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats could eventually restrict the flow of trash across the border.

Meantime, another MPP spoke about the project in terms of household waste.

During a committee meeting on May 23, Toronto-Lakeshore MPP was asking questions of Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff.

“A lot of people shoes, they have rubber soles. Now these all end up in landfills pretty well,” Rudy Cuzzeto put to Canniff.

“You know that Ontario pretty well exports most of our garbage to the U.S? Do you agree with that?”

“My understanding is 40 per cent,” Canniff responded.

“Yes, 40 per cent. So now, with what’s going on in the U.S. right now with President Trump, if he refuses to accept our 40 per cent of garbage, what should we do here in Ontario?” Cuzzeto asked Canniff.

The mayor indicated he understands Ontario needs landfill capacity, but he urged the province to find a different location.

CTV News reached out to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks for clarity about the Dresden proposal.

The spokesperson copied a portion of the initial proposal before the province.

“Site to be used for the storage, transfer, and processing of non-hazardous solid waste from industrial, commercial, institutional and municipal sectors […] broken down as follows:

1. A maximum average residual waste limit of up to 1,000 tonnes per day of non-hazardous solid residual waste for final disposal at waste disposal landfills
2. A maximum of up to 3,000 tonnes per day of non-hazardous solid waste materials including construction and demolition wastes that are processable into recycled materials, and
3. A maximum of up to 3,000 tonnes per day of non-hazardous solid waste materials including soil and soil-like materials wastes that are processable into recycled materials.”

CTV News has asked the ministry to explain what “residual waste” from “municipal sectors” means and has yet to receive a response.

York1 wants to work with the community

Waler said York1 is willing to “engage in discussions with decision makers about how the company can best support the community, similar to how other landfill sites in the community support local needs.”

They have a new website which outlines their proposal for Dresden and offers an FAQ section.

“The YORK1 site in Dresden will NOT be a traditional landfill – it will be a Regenerative Recycling Facility for non-hazardous construction and demolition materials ONLY,” the website main page reads.