Toxic air complaints prompt Hamilton landfill probe

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark
High total reduced sulphur counts prompts Clark to request review on possible public health impacts.

A motion by Ward 9 Coun. Brad Clark says a Hamilton Air Monitoring Network found total reduced sulphur compounds (TRS) levels above the provincial standards in Upper Stoney Creek. On July 3, 2025, the air monitoring network captured TRS numbers 17 times greater than the provincially accepted level. Several other tests between midnight and 7am significantly exceeded the provincial 10ppb standard, prompting Clark to call on staff to review this NEW data and advise of any public health impacts as a result of exposure to these high numbers.

https://www.thespec.com/news/canada/toxic-air-complaints-prompt-hamilton-landfill-probe/article_7e84fa83-1a46-5378-a3e8-8310469dae63.html

MECP – GFL Landfill gets Air Monitor for Odours

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

On Friday morning August 18th, 2023, I shared the news with Hamilton City Council and the public that the Public Health Committee request to the MECP to place an air monitor to test the odours has been approved. Going into the meeting city staff advised me of this good news.

The MECP has agreed to an air monitor to check the composition of the the GFL landfill odours. Residents in Upper Stoney Creek have been suffering with horrific odours virtually 24/7 seven days a week all summer. I stressed that the psycho-social impacts on residents has been immeasurable. They have been worried about the impact on their family’s health, on their children playing outside. I have even heard from parents about their kids playing soccer at the Heritage Green Sports Park. They fear that with all the running kids breath much deeper… what is the impact? I have heard that residents have not been sleeping due to anxiety and worry which in itself is causing additional stress.

We have been advocating for the residents since spring when the odours first appeared. I am grateful for the assistance of the Mayor and City Manager. While I have been sharing the ongoing complaints with the local district office, the Mayor has been speaking directly to David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. The City Manager has been speaking with the Deputy Minister, MECP. This collaborative effort has caused the MECP to be seized with finding solutions to end the odours.

When I first reached out to the local MECP office, I found the responses to me and my office to be rather flippant and dismissive. However, once the MECP was finally engaged on the matter, it is fair to say that they have been truly seized with the issue. The MECP local District Office has taken some strong initiatives to address this issue. They ordered the leachate pond to be drained, scrubbed and flushed. They ordered that the leachate cannot be pumped into the sewers, rather it had to be trucked away. They also ordered that the cell construction be ceased until further notice. They ordered an air monitor to assess the composition of the odours. Finally MECP has ordered the use of an odour neutralizing mist that has had some success in other facilities and jurisdictions. To be fair, it should be noted that GFL and their landfill staff have been fully co-operative with the Ministry in every attempt to stop these odours.

Collectively, Green for Life Inc., the Minister, Deputy Minister, and the local district office must find a permanent solutions. No resident should have to endure these odours for one day never mind the entire summer.