.png/:/rs=h:98,cg:true,m/qt=q:95)
Water Pollution
The landfill will be located in an area prone to major flooding, with a very high water table, extremely close to the Sydenham River. When rain water mixes with decomposing garbage it creates leachate, a mixture of contaminants that were brought into the facility. These contaminants can vary from carcinogenic material, heavy metals, bacterias, viruses, and other toxic compounds. Leachate is known to seep into soil and contaminate groundwater, it is to be expected to reach the areas aquifers which will flow into larger water bodies like the St. Clair River. Another topic of unease is what the construction of this landfill might do to neighbouring residents' water wells. After test wells were drilled on site in the spring of 2022, Dresden citizens closest to the location started experiencing methane in their well water. The MECP acknowledged the suspicious timing and the regional hydro-geologic studies, but labelled this occurrence "coincidental" suggesting it was due to low water levels at the time of testing.
Food Contamination
A huge concern from the Dresden community revolves around local farms and what the location of this project will result in regarding the economy. Among some of the 38+ confirmed chemicals at other York1 sites are asbestos, benzene, chloroform, toluene, and xylene. Known carcinogens that are toxic to humans, plants, and animals. Studies conducted on the impacts of landfills on agricultural soil in Nigeria showed increased acidity, reduction in nutrient supply, increased concentrations of metal ions, toxic pollution due to heavy metal presence, and dangerous concentrations of lead when in contact with groundwater. If farmers in the area can no longer sell their products due to contamination or are unable to grow crops due to soil fertility issues it will destroy decades of these families hard work and their livelihoods.
Soil Washing
A water-based process using chemical and physical separation to remove organic, inorganic, and toxic contaminants from soils. York1 currently has a soil processing facility (Bethridge) in Toronto, ON where soils contain concentrations of benzene, styrene, toluene, vinyl chloride, xylene, etc. Soils with high concentrations of silt and clay tend to carry the highest concentration, and often require further treatment (ex. thermal destruction) or disposal in a landfill. The US Environmental Protection Agency states that these facilities require a source of process water, commercial electrical power, permits for wastewater discharge, approval of land use, and in remote areas; road construction.
Questions we have based on this information:
- Will the Sydenham River be their source of process water? Will wastewater be discharged to Molly's Creek?
- How is the wastewater going to be treated? Local facilities do not have the capacity to handle this water.
- What contaminants are being removed?
- What will be done with the sludge? What will be done with remediated soil?
Species at Risk
The Sydenham River is the only major watershed located in the Carolinian Life Zone, habitat to over 114 species of fish and freshwater mussels. Of these species, the Sydenham holds at least 20 kinds of fish, reptiles, and mussels listed nationally or provincially as species at risk. The Salamander mussels only remaining population in Canada is in the Sydenham River, downstream of this proposed landfill project. 5 of Ontario's 8 species of turtles call the Sydenham home, all of which are listed as species at risk. This landfill will be located inside a flood plain only meters away from Molly's creek, which runs directly into the river. Every aspect of biodiversity will be affected, plants and wildlife, their food sources, and their population on this planet.