Latest news with #GaryWheeler
CBC
06-05-2025
- CBC
GFL facing 10 provincial charges over stinky Stoney Creek dump
GFL Environmental has been charged with 10 violations under the Environmental Protection Act related to its stinky dump in Stoney Creek. Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) spokesperson Gary Wheeler said the charges were laid on April 11, after an investigation by the ministry. The alleged offences happened between August 17, 2021 and November 24, 2023, he said. "The charges relate to the alleged discharge of a contaminant, namely odour and total reduced sulphur compounds, into the environment causing an adverse effect, and failing to comply with a ministry approval by failing to operate a waste management site as required," Wheeler told CBC Hamilton in an email. An appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice related to the case is expected on May 15, he added. If convicted, the company would face fines under the act. 'Exceeding the standard' Starting in 2023, residents around the GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility have been reporting strong, at times overwhelming, "rotten fish-like," "sulphuric," and "chemical" smells. Residents previously told CBC Hamilton the smells have had negative impacts not only on neighbours' ability to enjoy outdoor spaces in the area around the 65 Green Mountain Rd. W. dump, but also on their health, with some reporting headaches and nausea. The MECP said previously the smell is due to leachate, a chemical stew of potentially toxic liquid, that came up while building a new landfill cell. Wheeler said the 10 violations are: One count each of discharging, causing or allowing the discharge of: odour and total reduced sulphur compounds into the environment that caused or was likely to cause an adverse effect. One count each of failing to comply with an Environmental Compliance Approval by: allowing odour to become a nuisance, allowing leachate to exceed legal limits and allowing waste to be dumped higher than the legal limit. Five counts of causing or allowing the emission of total reduced sulfur compounds "exceeding the standard," where and when people frequent. "Environmental compliance officers continue to attend the GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility site and surrounding residential areas regularly in response to odour complaints," Wheeler said. "The ministry continues to engage with GFL to ensure that they are taking all possible steps to minimize odour impacts." GFL also facing fines, provincial officer's orders The MECP also issued an "environmental penalty" to GFL on April 28 for three events in August and September of last year where "landfill operations were confirmed as the source of odour impacts in the surrounding community." The penalty is $5,000 for each event, for a total of $15,000, said Wheeler. The Stoney Creek facility is also under two provincial officer's orders. One to reduce leachate levels and conduct air monitoring and another to "take actions" to lower waste piles currently above the maximum legal heights. "Most of the waste piles, including those that are most visible from the surrounding community, were addressed by the end of 2024. The remaining historical waste piles above the maximum permitted height will be relocated to new waste cells by December 2025," said Wheeler. Council to look into giving tax breaks to neighbours In late February, councillors voted unanimously at general issues committee to have staff look into providing area rating relief or any other tax relief to Upper Stoney Creek residents living within a three kilometre radius of the dump. Tenysha Graham, a neighbour of the area, delegated then and said the stench is "causing unmistakable harm to our community." "We are unable to use our backyards and children are unable to use community playgrounds," Graham said at the committee meeting. Councillors also voted unanimously to look into "legal options available to the city" in relation to residents' concerns, including a possible temporary closure of the site. Both motions were put forward by Ward 9 councillor Brad Clark, who said since November 2023, when the province strengthened penalties to landfills that contravene environmental laws, GFL has responded to odours by saying they're not at fault.
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario charges GFL over odours at Stoney Creek landfill
The province has laid 10 charges and also fined the operator of an infamously stinky Stoney Creek landfill following a slew of odour complaints spanning several years. GFL Environmental Inc. faces multiple charges under the Environmental Protection Act related to odour complaints and discharge of air contaminants — in particular, sulphurous gases recognizable as a 'rotten egg smell' — between mid-2021 and the end of 2023. The first court date associated with the alleged provincial offences is May 15. But the province also slapped $15,000 in fines on the landfill operator April 28 linked to incidents in August and September of last year that resulted in confirmed 'odour impacts to the community,' said Gary Wheeler, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Those fines — $5,000 a day for three confirmed incidents — were imposed without having to go through the court, as a result of regulatory changes to the Environmental Protection Act made in late 2023 that the province attributed in part to odour woes at the private Hamilton landfill. That year was considered the smelliest in decades at the former Taro dump, prompting 900 resident complaints blaming the stench for headaches, burning eyes and nausea — and also an unwanted 'Stinky Creek' label for the east Hamilton community. Two provincial orders against the operator — related to air quality monitoring and dealing with waste piled too high on site — remain in place, said Wheeler. Nearby residents learned of the charges against the operator of the former Taro dump at a virtual community liaison meeting April 30. On Thursday, resident Chris Mitton expressed hopes the charges would be 'serious enough' to prompt more action by the company to end a problem he argued continues unabated, despite assurances from GFL last year that the worst odour episodes ' will not return .' A view of the former Taro dump in 2023. 'It has not gone away. It is still brutal if the wind is blowing my way,' said Mitton, whose family lives just southwest of the active landfill. 'Sometimes it smells like dead fish, other times like some sort of chemical,' he said, adding there have been many summer days since 2023 when his kids cannot bear to be outside. 'It is absolutely ruining our lives … We considered selling our house at one point.' A GFL representative spoke to residents during the April 30 meeting, but the company has yet to respond to Spectator questions and requests for comment. Online, organizers with the Facebook group ' Shut Down the Stoney Creek Dump! ' circulated a ministry document outlining alleged offences. The alleged infractions included discharging odour and air contaminants, but also piling waste too high and improper management of leachate, the garbage juice created by rain filtering through trash. The company has previously said the odour episodes have become less severe since 2023 and that work is progressing on a new, enclosed leachate treatment system that is supposed to be done later this year. GFL has also registered a lobbyist to talk to city officials about efforts to improve odours in Stoney Creek. More than one member of the Facebook group, however, posted concerns about the coming summer — especially since the operators will be moving waste around to comply with the provincial order to reduce the height of the stored trash. Ontario is responsible for regulating the landfill's environmental compliance, not the city. But in February, city council also committed to exploring whether it could use the Municipal Act to pursue a temporary, court-ordered shutdown of the landfill if odour problems persisted. It is also looking at whether targeted tax relief is possible for nearby residents. Brad Clark, the councillor for the Stoney Creek Mountain, said as of Thursday staff have yet to report back on the feasibility of either option. He acknowledged the frustration of residents who have waited to see consequences or compensation following the infamous 'summer of stink' in 2023. 'I think this company needs to be held to account,' he said. 'If there are heavy fines, then they are going to start paying attention.'
