As the Town of Saugeen Shores looks to extend the life of its Southampton landfill, an Environmental Assessment process continues.
A staff report to council Monday says at the end of 2025, its remaining capacity was about 56,000m³ and its remaining life span is roughly five to seven years.
Staff say the province has accepted the terms of reference for an environmental assessment and now Saugeen Shores is starting on doing the actual environmental assessment with GEI Consultants Canada.
Some background studies have already been completed. They include stage one and two archaeological assessments, hydrogeological investigations (groundwater, aquifers etc) and a natural environment assessment which surveyed vegetation, wildlife, soil, fish habitat and drainage.
Staff say incineration and exporting waste were considered but those studies indicated expansion of the existing landfill site by about 725,000 cubic metres was a preferred option.
An update to council says leaf and yard waste diversion is a large part of the Town’s total diversion from the landfill, and current recycling and segregation programs have resulted in more than 40 per cent of waste being diverted from the landfill.
The Town is now proceeding to the second step of the process and is carrying out the Environmental Assessment which requires the Town to examine ‘alternative methods’ of landfill expansion that might include horizontal Expansion (tying into the existing landfill footprint), combined vertical and horizontal expansion, or construction of a separate fill area within the existing landfill area.
Staff say, background studies this year include an air quality assessment (dust, odour and gases), noise and vibration assessment, visual impact assessment and an airport bird hazard risk assessment.
Staff say design drawings for the alternative methods will be done and after that, a preferred design will be offered at a public information meeting in roughly early 2027.
That’s followed by two more phases including re-assessment of the alternative methods and then sending the plan to the provincial government in late 2028.