Have your say on proposed Beckwith garbage transfer site

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - Beckwith Township residents now have some extra time to give voice to their concerns, or support, for a waste transfer site off of Cavanagh Road.

A place to log concerns with the Ontario Environmental Registry was supposed to close to public comment on Jan. 5, but the application was re-posted on Dec. 28, meaning that a 45-day public comment period will now end on Saturday, Feb. 11 instead.

"I want everybody who is interested in this property, environmentally, to have their say," said Andy Deverell, who has opposed the waste transfer site being set up for many years, even going so far as to circulate a petition.

"All it is is rock on top of wetland. It (the land where the site will be situated) is the aquifer to all of the wells in Beckwith Township. It's extremely important."

Lafleche Environmental of North Stormont has applied for a permit to allow for 12,000 tonnes per day, six days a week, to be sorted on the site. However, the company has promised the number will not be that high, but rather it will be the high end for exceptional times of year when waste volumes are higher, such as right after Christmas.

"As far as Lafleche is concerned, every day is Christmas Day," said Deverell.

The company will also have facilities on site to store up to 300 tonnes of garbage, if need be.

"There's going to be so much garbage stored there, 300 tonnes is a pile as high as you can see," said Deverell.

He also has concerns about the number of garbage trucks using Cavanagh Road to access the site.

All public comments will be considered as part of the decision process by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

Deverell said he welcomes emails at deverell@xplornet.ca, from people seeking more information on how their comments can be included in the process.

To access the online information, go a Google search for the Ontario Environmental Registry, and then search the EVR # 011-5115.