York1 responds to Chatham-Kent’s Dresden waste and recycling facility concerns

(Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor)

York1 Environmental Waste Solutions has responded to Chatham-Kent’s concerns over the company’s proposed waste and recycling facility.

In a statement to CTV News, York1 claimed Chatham-Kent shared inaccuracies about the project.

Laryssa Waler, a spokesperson for York1 offered the following statement via email:

“This is an approved existing landfill site and waste transfer/processing site that York1 is upgrading to modern standards but changing the nature of the business to recycling that handles non‑hazardous construction and demolition materials, not household garbage. Facility design includes engineered containment, leachate collection to licensed treatment, segregated stormwater, enclosed tipping floors with negative air and filtration, and other best‑practice controls. Senior provincial officials have publicly stated on the record that this is not a new or closed landfill, but an existing one—consistent with how the site has been regulated.”

Waler continued, outlining who regulates what with the proposed facility.

“Approvals for an Ontario solid non‑hazardous landfill remain a provincial process under the Environmental Protection Act and Ontario Water Resources Act, with rigorous Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs) and ongoing oversight. Those requirements apply to our project.

“Separately, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is considering a discretionary designation request under section 9(1) of the federal Impact Assessment Act—a process used in exceptional circumstances for projects not listed in the federal regulations. IAAC’s own correspondence confirms this framework and the preliminary nature of its current review. York1 has provided IAAC with requested information and will continue to cooperate fully.

On Thursday, the municipality of Chatham-Kent said it submitted additional information to the IAAC, part of its ongoing request for a federal review of the facility.

Officials with the municipality said, “no meaningful consultation has taken place between York1 and the municipality; and York1 has not even contacted the municipality since submitting its proposal to the province.”

In response, Waler said:

“Contrary to the claim that there has been “no meaningful consultation” and that York1 “has not even contacted the Municipality since submitting its proposal,” we have engaged the Municipality repeatedly since 2021 — including meetings and calls with the Mayor, councillors, and senior staff throughout 2022 and 2023—and we again requested a meeting just earlier this week, and the CAO’s office has not confirmed a time. We remain ready to meet at the Municipality’s convenience.

The municipality also said several Indigenous communities, including Walpole Island First Nation and Delaware Nation Council (Moravian of the Thames) expressed concerns about potential impacts the project could have.

“Walpole Island First Nation (WIFN) contacted York1 on May 17, 2024; we replied the same day and met in person at WIFN offices on June 6, 2024, followed by a written thank you and attendee recap on June 7, 2024. We continue to invite dialogue with WIFN and other Indigenous communities,” Waler said.

“Fifth, on early municipal discussions: Well before Council’s February 2024 motion of opposition — which we acknowledge — our early discussions with municipal leadership and staff were constructive. In those meetings we incorporated the Municipality’s request to limit accepted materials to non‑hazardous C&D only, and we discussed the contours of a fair host‑community agreement. Those facts were reflected in our materials.”

Waler concluded, saying York1 is “committed to a transparent process, continuous engagement with residents, the municipality, and Indigenous communities, and to build a recycling facility that reduces environmental risk, compared with the legacy status quo of this 1960s site.”

Waler said the company is inviting the mayor, CAO, and council to meet with York1’s planning and engineering team at the earliest opportunity to review design safeguards, monitoring, truck-routing controls, and community-benefit commitments.

“Bottom line: Upgrading an existing legacy site to modern engineering while focusing on diversion of construction materials is a practical, Ontario‑regulated solution that keeps materials management at home, with better controls and more accountability,” Waler said.

The full article outlining Chatham-Kent’s concerns is available here.

- With files from CTV Windsor’s Melanie Kentner.