By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Will York1’s Dresden project get a “Ford Pass?”
That’s the concern of those opposed to the company’s plan to expand landfill capacity and build a regenerative recycling facility at 29831 Irish School Rd.
In response to news York1 has withdrawn a court challenge against the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the chair of Dresden Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal (C.A.R.E.D) stated the grass-roots group will remain “vigilant and active.”
According to Rob Simpson, York 1’s voluntary withdrawal from a legal process it initiated may be interpreted by some as a good sign, but the group is wary of the province’s “shenanigans” regarding Special Economic Zone Designations related to legislation passed under the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act.
Dresden C.A.R.E.D. is also worried about the fact the Doug Ford government has removed a comprehensive Environmental Assessment for the proposal.
“These actions, along with others, lead us to believe another Ford Pass is coming,” Simpson told The Voice recently, noting Dresden C.A.R.E.D. continues to stand with “Chatham-Kent and First Nations communities” to oppose the York1 development in all forms.
“It’s refreshing to hear York1 has pulled their court challenge against the municipality,” said Wendy Vercauteren, spokesperson from advocacy group Dresden Together. “However we do have reservations about their intention. This is not the first time they’ve pulled a court challenge. We’re concerned that there is more going on at this point. It feels like an emotional rollercoaster.”
Following the decision to abandon the court challenge, a spokesperson for York1 said the company decided that moving the matter out of the courts into the land use planning process as an “open public process” is the best path forward.
According to Laryssa Waler, York1 will not seek a Minister’s Zoning Order and will go through regular municipal planning channels to ask for a zoning bylaw amendment so the proposal can be assessed on its planning merits through the normal public process.
“It is hoped that the municipality will work collaboratively together with York1 through the planning process,” Waler said in an email message.
York1’s now abandoned court application had sought to exempt the proposal from Chatham-Kent’s zoning and planning process.
It’s been 32 months since the York1 project first came to light after it was discovered by chance on the Environmental Registry of Ontario’s website. The news sparked widespread outrage, leading to strong opposition that includes the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Walpole Island First Nation, and a host of national environmental protection agencies.
In 2025, York1’s Dresden project made headlines when the Ontario government passed the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. The legislation singled out the development as one that must go ahead because of the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Ford said he’s worried the U.S., which currently accepts around 40 per cent of the province’s waste, may close the border to Ontario’s garbage.
North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville, a strong opponent of the York1 project, told The Voice she felt “cautiously optimistic” after learning York1 dropped its court application, but fears the company may still be able to bypass normal zoning procedures in its attempt to revive the derelict dump, adding the matter could end up in front of the Ontario Land Tribunal for a decision.
According to Simpson, there is a range of concerns yet to be addressed, adding the group is deeply concerned about ground stability at the site, adding there are worries around gas emissions from underground sources.
“We have not seen a geotechnical survey as requested three years ago to prevent another Wheatley, nor any provision for the homes abutting the project,” he said. “Our combined communities of Chatham-Kent and Walpole Island eagerly await consultation on this ever-evolving process.”
Further concerns around the York1 landfill development include safety related to heavy traffic, damage to roads and infrastructure, the location’s close proximity to homes and schools, as well as the potential of water pollution as the site is adjacent to Molly’s Creek which feeds into the Sydenham River.
It its original proposal, the GTA-based company said the firm planned to bring in 700 trucks a day of non-hazardous construction waste, but has since scaled that back to 200 trucks a day.
Also, in the works are plans to expand the 20-acre landfill to a capacity of 1.62 million cubic metres of waste, up to a fill rate of 365,000 tonnes a year.
York1 also plans to build a regenerative recycling facility with an intake of 6,000 tonnes of non-toxic waste per day. The company wants to build a leachate ponding system as part of remediating unprocessed soil.
According to a senior media spokesman from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the ministry is reviewing the Environmental Compliance Approval applications for the proposal to ensure they are complete.
“Once deemed complete, ECA applications will be posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) for a 45-day public comment period, and the ministry’s technical review of the applications will begin,” Gary Wheeler stated in an email message.
York1 purchased the dump site on Irish School Road, located only 700 metres from Dresden’s high school, by way of a private sale in 2022. Historically, the site was used as a tile yard and for the disposal of fly ash. In 2023, through a separate company, it purchased a 95-acre farm to the south of the site, as well as a 48-acre farm to the north. At the time, York1 stated it planned to reopen the dump under existing Environmental Compliance Approvals.
Provincial records show the property was sold again in 2025 to Whitestone Fields Ltd. The property that was owned by York1 was sold to Whitestone in February of that year. The directors of York1 are the same as Whitestone Fields.
