Region committed to solving problems associated with the local compost site

Residents in the vicinity of the Chinguacousy compost site on King Road in Caledon who are concerned by the "foul stench" coming from the site, had the opportunity to share their concerns with senior-level officials from the Region of Peel last week.

Chaired by Ward 2 Regional Councillor Allan Thompson, who organized the meeting, a capacity crowd filled the lower level of the Mayfield United Church.

Thompson said that many residents are becoming increasingly frustrated because despite changes that have been made on the site within the last few weeks, the offensive odour remains and they are telling him they don't think the Region is taking their concerns seriously enough.

Thompson is taking their concerns very seriously, adding that the five-member panel of top-level regional officials who came to hear the residents concerns speaks volumes about the commitment of the Region to resolve this problem.

"I think it is important to put a face to the Region of Peel with regard to what we will do to solve and mitigate these issues," Mitch Zamojc, commissioner of environment, transportation and planning services, told the residents. "You need to put a face to a name …(and) realize that there is a genuine commitment of our time to take action on this issue and find solutions to the concerns that you have surrounding this site."

Joining Zamojc on the panel were Larry Conrad, manager of waste operations; Andy Pollock, director, waste management; Emil Kolb, regional chairman; and David Mowatt, medical officer of health.

The odour problems have become more problematic in recent months and Thompson and regional staff have been working to keep residents up to date on the situation, trying to keep them abreast of developments. Three letters from the region have been delivered to residents in the last month (May 25, June 1 and June 8) with Thompson himself hand-delivering the notices about the community meeting.

Thompson said that some residents expressed health concerns as it relates to the site and that at his request, regional health staff have visited with the residents.

"We don't like hearing things second hand," Mowatt told the residents, adding that medical officers need to hear from the residents about health concerns. "What (are) the actual symptoms … how is it affecting you … (and) what worries do you have about long-term effects."

Residents sent the strong message to the region that they want the materials moved and regional staff confirmed they are looking at alternative sites to move the product to. Residents pressed staff to identify the sites under consideration but Conrad said while they do have a couple of sites they are investigating, site suitability needs to be determined first.

"They may not have the certificate of operations that would allow them to receive it," said Conrad. "We are reviewing their approvals to make sure they are licensed to take that material," said Zamojc, adding he's hoping that he could have a couple of sites lined up within a couple of weeks. "But then it could take several weeks, if not months to move that material off," he said.

He reminded residents that if the material is moved off, that it will be disturbed, which will then create more odour. Staff told the residents that no new materials have been coming into the site for the last month and product destined for the Chinguacousy site is being re-directed to a facility in Arthur. Trucks entering the property now will either be bringing in materials to build a berm around the site or trucks taking the product out for landscape use.

The staff, Thompson and Caledon Mayor Marolyn Morrison fielded many questions from the residents and Zamojc made the commitment that staff from the region's communication department, who were taking minutes of the meeting, would compile a list of questions as part of the minutes and that answers to all the resident concerns would be addressed, including the questions submitted to the staff in written form.

Thompson and staff stressed that the residents will remain informed throughout the process with Zamojc also inviting concerned residents to partner with the region in a type of citizens' review team.

Residents with any questions are invited to call Thompson at 905-873-6811 or by e-mail at allan.thompson@caledon.ca. Residents wanting to receive e-mail updates on the situation or to participate in the citizens' review team should send an email message to Thompson with the subject line "Chinguacousy compost."