Ontario looks to fast-track a landfill in Dresden

The former Dresden landfill seen just north of Dresden, Ont. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News Windsor)

The province of Ontario is looking to fast-track a landfill in Dresden, Ont.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants to exempt the York1 Environmental Waste Solutions project from an environmental assessment.

The move is included in the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, unveiled by Ford Friday.

It calls for “transforming environmental oversight” and cites three project examples, including York1’s plan for Dresden.

The document reads:

“Removing Environmental Assessment (EA) requirements for York1 Environmental Waste Solutions proposal to resume landfill operations and expand waste handling, processing, and transfer operations at the former Dresden Tile Yard in Chatham-Kent. The project will continue to be subject to environmental permits.”

The eight-page document details how the province intends to cut red tape on projects for mining, municipal infrastructure, or site redevelopment.

“The days of making proponents wait years for approvals and permits are over,” Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy is quoted in the news release.

“We can and will build the Ontario of tomorrow in a way that protects the environment and protects jobs.”

The public now has 30 days to respond to this new proposal, exempting York1’s plan from an environmental assessment.

Who owns the site?

It’s now unclear who owns the property in question.

CTV News reported March 25 that York1 had sold its share of the property, confirmed by a business magazine, the municipality, and the founders of Dresden C.A.R.E.D., a grassroots group opposed to the project.

“We had a lot of trouble even finding out the sale happened,” co-founder Stefan Premdas said at the time.

“It was pretty concealed.”

York1 Environmental Waste Solutions has not responded to numerous emails from CTV News Windsor in March 2025.

Provincial flip-flop

In the summer of 2024, former MECP Minister, Andrea Khanjin, reassured the community of Dresden they would require a full environmental assessment.

While in Windsor last summer, the Premier was also asked about the project and the community’s opposition to it, telling residents if they didn’t want the project, it wouldn’t happen.

“We have no intentions on bringing any municipal household waste or garbage to this facility,” George Kirchmair, vice-president environmental for York1 told CTV News in July 2024.

“We have no intentions on bringing any odorous garbage to this location. It will be non-odorous construction materials. We don’t plan to change that in the future.”

CTV News has reached out to the MECP, York1, and Dresden C.A.R.E.D. for updated reaction and comment on the latest development.

Statement from MECP

The ministry responded to CTV News on Thursday with the following statement:

Ontario is running out of landfill capacity, and the current process for comprehensive environmental assessments can take six years or more. In recent years, 40 per cent of Ontario’s industrial, commercial, and institutional waste was sent to landfills in Michigan and New York.

With continued uncertainties and tariffs at the border, we are proposing to exempt York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd.’s landfill and waste processing proposal from requirements under the Environmental Assessment Act.

The project will remain subject to strong provincial oversight and other regulatory requirements including Environmental Compliance Approvals under the Environmental Protection Act.

Resident feedback

Dresden resident Wendy Vercauteren has been one of the vocal voices of opposition to the York1 plans for her town.

“I get it. We need to put measures in place to have more landfill capacity in the province. But, at what expense? To literally allow a company to put it on top of a small town of close to 3,000 residents?” she wonders.

The York1 site is less than two kilometres from her small community.

Not only is she worried about the environmental impact to local waterways, but the increased traffic on their roads.

Vercauteren believes there are plenty of other potential landfill sites with little to no opposition across Ontario.

“The EROs (Environmental Registry of Ontario proposals) that were posted last year for this Dresden property garnered hundreds and hundreds of comments that were not in favour of the proposed landfill,” she said.

“And, we all felt confident that we had our voices heard by the province. Now, we feel like none of that mattered.”