By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As the municipality prepares to go to court to fight the York1 landfill project Sept. 21, the bid to “Defend Dresden” grinds on.
But there’s little information about the project’s scope, uncertainty about what’s required of York1 in the zoning application process and fear about what lies ahead.
As part of an update on York1’s plan to expand operations at the derelict Dresden dump, Chatham-Kent’s top administrators outlined what’s been happening behind the scenes as the municipality prepares for the legal battle. Held at the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre June 24, the meeting was attended by around 100 people.
Over the course of the session, C-K’s deputy chief administrative officer Dave Taylor repeatedly stated Chatham-Kent doesn’t have many new details with regard to the project’s scope.
“We continue to follow up with York 1 to try and gather any information for the community about the project,” Taylor said. “Unfortunately, they’ve continued to provide only limited, and sometimes inconsistent, information.”
However, significant details about truck traffic were unveiled. The results of a study commissioned by York1 were released, explaining the routes trucks will take to the 29831 Irish School Rd. site. According to Edward Soldo, Chatham-Kent’s head of infrastructure and engineering, the study outlines three routes. A total of 10 per cent of the trucks will come from Highway 402 in the north, travelling south through Wyoming and Oil Springs to the landfill, while trucks from Hwy. 401 will take two different routes.
Trucks from the west, which is 60 per cent of the traffic, will exit the 401 at Victoria Road, travelling through Thamesville to Baseline Road, Dawn Mills Road, Croton Line, and then on to Irish School Road.
Trucks from the east will exit at County Road 15, taking Baseline Road, Dawn Mills Road to Croton Line and onto the site.
Soldo said the study indicates there will be 200 trucks per day, but earlier environmental compliance approval documents stated there may be as many as 700 trucks per day.
The meeting also heard York1 sent out a letter in June to all Dresden residents with a list of questions and answers related to the project. It follows an earlier letter sent last fall from York1 chief operating officer Brian Brunetti, including his “sincere” apology for “a lot” of misunderstanding about the project.
The June letter also states the Dresden community will be informed about the scope of the project by mid-summer of this year. C-K hasn’t received any of that information from York1 directly, instead learning about it from local citizens.
In her presentation, Chatham-Kent director of legal services Emily Crawford said the municipality won’t be sharing their strategy, in order not to tip off York1.
She said the Superior Court of Justice hearing isn’t a regular trial with witnesses and will likely be held online. The judge will consider submissions and may not render a decision for months.
Crawford said there are concerns York1 could be granted approval to proceed, bypassing Chatham-Kent’s zoning regulations through a provincial minister zoning order. However, Crawford cautioned both sides will have the right to appeal, no matter the outcome.
To date, Chatham-Kent has spent $125,000 on the matter, having contracted outside legal experts to argue the case.
In her comments from the podium, Walpole Island First Nation Chief Leela Thomas expressed disappointment with the process.
She said the band has only met with York1 once, in 2025, and it didn’t go well.
“The message they gave to us it that they don’t have to consult with First Nations because the government said they didn’t have to, because they were buying a property that had existing permits,” the chief stated.
After the meeting, North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville called the session “depressing and disappointing.
“But we must fight it to the bitter end,” the councillor added, saying she was happy to see that the trucks wouldn’t be travelling directly through Dresden.
However, she noted it’s “ironic” that the majority of the waste coming off Hwy. 401 will travel directly through Thamesville – MPP Steve Pinsonneault’s hometown.
At the conclusion of the session, Dresden resident Mary Ellen Gibbons asked why local MPP’s didn’t attend the meeting.
“I lay this whole thing at the feet of (Premier) Doug Ford and (MPP) Steven Pinnsonneault,” Gibbons said. “They won’t come to Dresden. They will not answer our questions. They’re ramming this through and they’re ramming it down the throat of Dresden residents. Plain and simple. They should be here tonight. They’re cowards; they don’t want to deal with this.”
Officials are urging the community to continue to engage in order to keep the issue front and centre. A comprehensive overview of the landfill issue is available online at Let’sTalkCK.
It’s been more than two years since the community launched a fierce battle against York1 Environmental Waste Solution’s bid to expand the dormant Dresden dump into a large landfill and recycling facility aimed at repurposing construction waste. Local residents, Chatham-Kent, First Nation communities, Ontario Opposition leaders and major environmental groups have collaborated in the fight against the controversial project.
Following a public outcry in 2024, former Minister of Environment Andrea Khanjin ordered a full environmental assessment of the Dresden site. But that was reversed by the Ford government in June 2025, under the guise of Bill 5 – the Protect Ontario By Unleashing Our Economy Act.
Ford has stated the Dresden landfill is needed in case U.S. President Donald Trump closes the border to waste. Currently, a significant amount of Ontario’s garbage is exported to Michigan and New York.
