My Office has been working with the Mayor’s Office, City Manager’s Office to collaboratively share our concerns, on behalf of thousands of residents, about these ongoing odour issue to the MECP Local District Office, and the Minister’s. We have continued to stress that this is 100% unacceptable. Nobody should have to endure these odours for any period of time, let alone an entire summer.
We continue to rely on residents to file complaints during normal business hours with the local district office at 905 521-7650, after hours GFL Toll Free 1 800 567-7455 or MECP Spill Line Toll-free: 1-800-268-6060
Here is the most recent update from the MECP.
1. Ministry staff continue to visit the site regularly to assess odours.
2. On August 1, 2023, the City of Hamilton notified the ministry that they have been in discussions with GFL around ceasing any discharge of leachate to the sanitary sewer that could cause odours from downstream manholes in accordance with their sewer use by-law.
3. GFL has advised that they remain in discussion with the City of Hamilton about other potential leachate disposal options such as using tanker trucks to haul it offsite for disposal at the wastewater treatment facility.
4. On August 2, 2023, ministry environmental officers attended the GFL landfill site and confirmed offsite odours in the residential area North of the facility. During the assessment of the site and operations, the officer identified exposed leachate in the active landfill cell which was identified as a likely contributing source of the offsite odours.
5. With the increased precipitation, and GFL unable to dispose of leachate through the normal process of treatment and discharge to the sanitary sewer, it is believed excess leachate has accumulated in the landfill and is contributing to the offsite odours.
6. On August 2, 2023, the ministry required GFL to submit a detailed action plan to the Hamilton District Office by August 3, 2023. The action plan is to include at a minimum:
7. The strategy to deal with the odours from currently exposed leachate at the site;
8. A plan to remove and dispose of leachate from the landfill to reduce leachate levels; and
9. A plan for continuous odour monitoring on-site and in nearby residential areas so that immediate actions can be taken if odours are detected offsite.
10. GFL submitted the action plan end of day, August 3, 2023.
11. The plan is under review to determine if it addresses the ministry’s request.
12. GFL informed the ministry that they are finalizing a Community
Communications Plan to keep the local community informed of actions implemented to address their concerns. On August 4, they shared the attached update with the Community Liaison Committee.
13. The ministry’s environment officers will continue to respond to complaints, assess any odour impacts and follow up with the company to ensure that they are taking all possible steps to minimize odour impacts.
Brad Clark Report 