Dresden keeps up landfill battle as project seeks Ontario approvals

Dresden, a town in southwestern Ontario, is opposing a proposed landfill expansion by waste company York1. The project aims to revive and expand a dormant landfill near Dresden, with the capacity to hold waste equivalent to filling Toronto's Rogers Centre over the next decade. Despite strong local opposition, the company's statement emphasizes safety and the importance of recycling materials, stating that Ontario is running short on landfill space.

The provincial government is seeking public comment on whether to amend the existing permits, which lack a full environmental assessment. Municipal officials argue that the company used outdated permits to bypass the required assessment. York1 contends that the project will expand Ontario's waste management capacity and that the lack of a new environmental assessment will expedite the process.

The municipality maintains that the small landfill, dating back to the 1960s, has been dormant for so long that it should be treated as a new project. If approved, the landfill would accept up to 3,000 tonnes of waste daily and undergo sorting at a proposed transfer station. Public comment on the amended permits is open until December 21, 2026.