I am writing to strongly…

I am writing to strongly oppose the proposed landfill and waste facility at 29831 Irish School Road near Dresden, Ontario. This proposal is dangerous, disrespectful, and deeply flawed for many reasons:
1. Too Close to Homes and Schools: The landfill would be just 800 metres from the town of Dresden, with two schools nearby. There is a reason Bill 197 prohibits landfills within 3.5 km of towns—exposure to asbestos, silica dust, methane gas, and groundwater contamination poses serious risks to public health. This is far too close to where children live, learn, and play.
2. 700+ Trucks Per Day: This proposal includes over 700 truck trips daily through rural communities and small-town roads that cannot support such volume. These roads are shared by school buses, pedestrians, and slow-moving farm equipment. This is a recipe for traffic congestion, damage to infrastructure, and accidents—even fatalities.
3. Environmental Damage to Sensitive Land: The site lies in a floodplain next to Molly’s Creek, home to endangered mussels and species-at-risk habitats. Toxic runoff from landfill operations could easily reach the creek and the Sydenham River, causing irreversible ecological harm. Farmers in the area have already been denied bridge repairs to protect these species—yet this project threatens the entire watershed.
4. Lack of Consultation with Indigenous Communities: This proposal would have serious impacts on the traditional territories of the Walpole Island First Nation and the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown. Yet these communities have not been properly consulted, in violation of the province’s duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous peoples under the law. Proceeding without proper engagement is not only unethical—it may be illegal.
5. History of Violations by York1: The company behind this proposal has been fined for environmental breaches, involved in a workplace fatality, and failed to document excess soil movements. These are not the actions of a trustworthy operator. This is not a company that should be managing a landfill next to a residential community and environmentally sensitive land.
6. Community is Being Ignored: The entire Dresden community is opposed to this proposal, as is the Chatham-Kent Municipal Council, unanimously. Families are afraid. Property values are already suffering. People are considering leaving their homes. Dresden is a proud, close-knit town and it deserves to be protected, not sacrificed.

We demand that the Environmental Assessment requirement remain in place, and that this proposal be halted immediately. The people of Dresden, the broader Chatham-Kent region, and Indigenous communities deserve better.