Residents Oppose Proposed Expansion of Navan Landfill Site

A proposal to expand the Navan landfill in eastern Canada has raised significant concerns among local residents and their city councillor, who insists that the community was assured the site would eventually close. Waste Connections of Canada has announced plans to conduct an environmental assessment for the proposed expansion, which would add an additional three to four million cubic metres of landfill airspace to the existing capacity of 7.6 million cubic metres. The current site, established in 1960, is projected to reach capacity by 2027.

Councillor Catherine Kitts, who represents Orléans South-Navan, expressed her dismay at the news, stating that local residents were promised in a 2007 agreement with the community group Friends of the Mer Bleue that the landfill would not undergo further expansions. “There was an understanding in the community that we weren’t going to see another expansion,” Kitts told reporters. She emphasized that prospective homebuyers in the area were informed about the landfill’s anticipated closure as part of their decision-making process.

The councillor’s concerns extend beyond the breach of community trust. Kitts highlighted the potential impact of increased truck traffic and odours on nearby residences. “I think people in the community feel misled and there’s real concern about this proposal,” she remarked.

Despite the controversy, Chris Visser, the Waste Connections Canada manager overseeing the expansion project, declined to comment directly but encouraged local residents to participate in an upcoming open house. This event, which is expected to take place in the next few months, aims to provide stakeholders with information about the expansion plans. Waste Connections’ website indicates there will be two open houses for community engagement.

Kitts noted that the expansion process is led at the provincial level, meaning the city has no formal role in reviewing the application. She characterized the notice from Waste Connections as merely the first step in a lengthy, multi-year process.

Concerns about the potential implications of the landfill expansion are not limited to residential areas. Local business owners are also apprehensive about how the project might affect their operations. One resident, Shawna Alary, expressed her worries about the smell and its possible deterrent effect on business growth in the area. “I know that businesses are growing more around here too. I think they’re planning on building more around… Navan. And with the smell in the summer, I don’t think that’s that great,” she said.

In response to the expansion proposal, Councillor Kitts is considering legal options to challenge the decision. “My focus right now has been on that [2007] agreement and finding out whether it has legal standing,” she stated.

Residents and officials alike remain on high alert as the community grapples with the implications of the proposed Navan landfill expansion. With a significant portion of the community expressing concern, the outcome of this project will likely shape the future of the area for years to come.