Stoney Creek residents continue living with landfill stench, still not receiving answers

It has been another smelly week in Stoney Creek, residents say they were informed on Friday by waste management company GFL Environmental that there was once again a malfunction with its leachate system, causing the intense and terrible odour.

“It can cause headaches, it can cause nausea. I know for myself, it irritates my lungs. You can feel it when you breathe, it feels like burning in your nose and your lungs,” says Kathleen Taylor, a resident of the area.

Taylor says while the odour has been an on-and-off issue for the past three years, this past week has been unbearable.

The people closest to it have children who are complaining about headaches, they don’t know what’s happening to them,” she says.

The culprit of the stink is the leachate treatment pond at the GFL landfill on Green Mountain Road in Stoney Creek.

Leachate is the liquid that drains from the dump.

The Ministry of Environment tells CHCH News that after receiving multiple complaints about the odour, last night it ordered GFL to evaluate the treatment process and make the necessary fixes.

WATCH MORE: Stoney Creek residents demand action over persistent landfill odour

Although, residents still have plenty of questions.

“Unfortunately I’m not really getting any answers to my questions. I don’t know what’s really causing the issues. I don’t have any timelines for repairs,” says Hamilton ward 6 city councillor Brad Clark.

Residents will have to wait three more weeks for any answers. The ministry has also ordered GFL to host a public meeting explaining the issue, and the steps being taken to resolve it.

“It has been a very frustrating process where residents are now in their third year of losing their peaceful enjoyment of their property and their backyards. and they’ve had enough,” Clark says.

This isn’t the first time the dump has had a smelly problem.

In May, GFL was charged with 10 provincial offences and was fined $15,000. The company has appealed the fines, and has not answered CHCH News’ request for comment on this latest issue.

Residents say they’re fed up, and are looking to see the landfill either capped or closed.
“First of all, stop new waste from coming in. Put all of your resources towards taking care of what you need to take care of so that you’re no longer disturbing the community. At this point, we want the landfill closed,” Kathleen Taylor says.

A community meeting is set to discuss the issue Sunday evening at The Salvation Army on Winterberry drive.

Local councillor Brad Clark and the newly-elected member of parliament, Ned Kuruc, are set to be in attendance. Residents can also register through the ministry of environment to attend the July 24 meeting with GFL.

READ MORE: Ontario charges Stoney Creek landfill operator over odours