Written By David Gomez
ADELAIDE METCALFE - A significant debate has emerged over the proposed sewage biosolids storage and distribution facility at Kerwood Road. Local community members, led by Heather Horning from Citizens Concerned About Biosolids, express their concerns about this initiative, which, if implemented, could set a troubling precedent for Ontario.
Sewage biosolids consist of treated sewage sludge from industrial and hospital waste that is used as fertilizer, containing various chemicals.
The Ontario Land Tribunal’s (OLT) recent endorsement of the site plan, despite strong public opposition, has only intensified community dissent. Currently, the project is on hold while the Township’s request for review is considered by the OLT.
Heather Horning highlights that the facility’s design, with its two-foot-high retaining walls capable of stacking biosolids up to seven meters, fails to adequately mitigate significant risks such as environmental impacts, odour control, and the potential for spontaneous combustion.
“Consider the proximity to the Sydenham River, home to over 25 endangered species; this facility could significantly threaten this sensitive ecosystem,” Horning elaborates. The concerns extend beyond environmental degradation. The health implications for nearby communities are enormous, with concerns about long-term exposure to harmful chemicals commonly found in sewage biosolids that do not break down but accumulate in the soil.
This plan “stands as a dangerous precedent for other facilities across Ontario,” Horning warns. In response, her group has rallied significant public support, gathering over 2,700 signatures for two critical petitions. One demands a moratorium on land application of sewage biosolids until further testing can establish safety protocols. The other calls for a halt in the construction of such facilities until the province can ensure they are designed to protect against the many problems associated with biosolids storage.
The collected signatures were delivered to the office of MPP Steve Pinsonneault in Strathroy on November 29th. These petitions are not only circulating in this area but also in other ridings.
“Is it justifiable to prioritize industrial convenience over public health and environmental integrity?” Horning questions, spotlighting the discrepancy between governmental assurances and the stark realities the community fears this facility might bring.
Petitions have also been launched at Queen’s Park, urging lawmakers to acknowledge and rectify potential oversights in current waste management strategies.
As this situation develops, residents of Adelaide Metcalfe continue to press for transparency, regulatory reform, and most importantly, a re-evaluation of the risks associated with sewage biosolids.
