I am commenting out as a…

I am commenting out as a concerned mother and resident of Dresden, Ontario regarding the proposed project to resume landfill operations and expand waste processing at 29831 Irish School Road.

I fully understand the growing need for new waste solutions across the province, however, I kindly ask you to consider the serious concerns families like mine have about the location of this particular project.

The proposed landfill would be less than one kilometre from our town and only about 700 metres from two of our local schools — including where my five-year-old son attends. In Dresden, we have one main road, that most young families like myself travel every day to bring our children to school and daycare. The site's close proximity to local schools raises alarms about traffic safety and exposure to pollutants. Increased truck traffic near schools and residential areas significantly raises the risk of accidents and endangers our children during their daily commutes.

As a parent, my first priority will always be the health and safety of my children. The idea of having a large-scale facility processing materials such as asbestos and contaminated soils so close to where they learn and play fills me with fear. No parent should have to worry daily about whether the air their child breathes or the water they drink could be unsafe.

I truly believe there are better and safer locations for this kind of project — locations that would not place the health of young families and entire communities at risk. We are not against development or waste management improvements. We are simply asking for a project of this size and nature to be placed somewhere that does not immediately threaten the health of vulnerable populations.

Please, I ask you from the bottom of my heart, take a moment to imagine your own children or grandchildren living next to a site like this. To watch as your property value plummets, which you have worked your entire life to build. At the BARE MINIMUM a full environmental assessment must be done to ensure the safety of our community.

Thank you for your time.