News & Events
MTO Bridge Closure
On April 18, 2017, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will be closing the interchange at Highways 401 and 40 to demolish and build a new bridge. The closure is estimated to last for eight months.
The bridge closure will force truck traffic to and from the Ridge Landfill through a temporary alternate haul route that the MTO has selected.
The alternate haul route will begin at the interchange of Highway 401 and Bloomfield Road. Trucks will be directed to go south on Bloomfield Road, then east along Middle Line and south on Erieau Side Road.
Since the MTO proposed this project, Waste Connections has reached out to the Ministry and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to discuss its concerns about the re-routing of truck traffic to the Ridge Landfill. As a result, temporary traffic signals have been installed at Charing Cross Road and Middle Line to better manage traffic.
Waste Connections has advised trucking companies transporting waste to the landfill of the new alternate route about their strict adherence of the temporary haul route that comes under Municipal Bylaw 172-2015 which will be enforced by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Municipal Police. We are also advising the drivers directly at the landfill by distributing a flyer with a map of the new route and will work with local officials to monitor the situation.
For ongoing updates on the project, the following is an MTO website www.highway401and40.ca.
National Waste Reduction Week
To celebrate National Waste Reduction Week (October 17 – 23, 2016), Waste Connections and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent partnered to provide free recycling boxes and a reusable bag to residents at events on October 18 and 20.
A total of 4,738 recycling boxes were handed out which equates to approximately 2,369 households receiving new larger recycling bins for recyclables.
The turnout exceeded our expectations and reminded us that we need to do more to promote waste diversion at the curb to improve our current blue box diversion rate and meet future targets.
Rick Kucera - Manager of Waste and Recycling Services for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
Cathy Smith, District Manager for Waste Connections added, “We are pleased to be a partner with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and promoting the diversion of recyclables from disposal. These materials are an integral part of Ontario’s burgeoning circular economy whereby they can be transformed into new products.”
Opening of the Blenheim Seniors Centre
On Saturday, October 15, over 300 persons attended the official opening of the new Blenheim Seniors’ Centre. The Ridge Landfill Trust provided close to $1 million for the building of the new facility which now boasts a membership of over 600 persons — a 100 percent increase in 2016 alone.
Attending the official opening were Cathy Smith and Tim Kozlof, Project Manager for Ridge Landfill Expansion and District and Landfill Manager for Waste Connections respectively, joined Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope and Ward 2 councilors Trevor Thompson and Karen Herman as well as MPP Rick Nicholls.
We’re very proud that funding the Ridge Landfill provides to the Landfill Trust continues to make important contributions to the vitality of the community.
Tim Kozlof
Cathy Smith added: “This facility, along with the Talbot Trail Park and youth drop in centre, is strengthening the downtown core of our community.”
Ridge Landfill Holds Second Open House
On June 28, 2016, the Ridge Landfill held a second Open House at the St. Mary’s Hall in Blenheim from 5:00 to 8:00 pm to update neighbours and residents in the communities that surround the Ridge Landfill on its progress with the draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposed expansion of the landfill.
Over 30 persons attended the Open House with Ridge Landfill Manager Tim Kozlof and Cathy Smith, the Project Manager for the proposed expansion present joined by other Waste Connections staff and its consulting engineering firm. The purpose of Open House was to answer questions about the proposed expansion including the alternatives that will be considered, criteria proposed for the evaluation of alternatives, the technical work that will be undertaken and the public consultation activities that will be carried out following the approval of the ToR as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA). A copy of the information panels that were presented at the June 28 meeting can be found on the page.
As part of the EA process, a draft ToR was prepared which sets out the framework for addressing the EAA requirements. The draft ToR was released on June 28 for a 30-day public review ending on July 29, 2016.
If you have any questions or comments about the proposed expansion, please email: ridgelandfill@wasteconnections.com or call Cathy Smith at 519-676-5000.
Ridge Landfill Holds Open House
On May 3, 2016, the Ridge Landfill held an Open House at the St. Mary’s Hall in Blenheim to provide neighbours and residents in the communities that surround the Ridge an opportunity to learn about the landfill operation and the company’s future plans.
Ridge Landfill Manager Tim Kozlof and Cathy Smith, the Project Manager for the proposed expansion were joined by other Waste Connections staff and its consulting engineering firm and met with residents and municipal officials to answer their questions about how the landfill is designed, constructed and operated, environmental management systems in place to protect the environment, community partnerships with local organizations and the regulatory process and proposed options for the expansion. Nearly 60 people attended the Open House. A copy of the information panels can be found on the page.
Waste Connections of Canada presented its annual royalty payment to Randy Hope, Mayor of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent on Thursday, December 3, 2015.
The cheque, for $2.3 million, represents an annual payment by Waste Connections to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent based on the volume of waste materials that is delivered to the Company's Ridge Landfill near Blenheim. The payment is part of a host community agreement between Waste Connections and the municipality and since 2005, approximately $15.9 million has been contributed to the Municipality.
“Waste Connections has proved to be a very efficient provider of landfill and waste disposal services, as well as a key sponsor of community projects,” said Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope.
George South, Area Manager (Ontario) for Waste Connections stated, "Waste Connections is committed to being a good neighbour and a responsible partner with its host communities, both in terms of the manner it operates its facilities and as a contributor to the economic and social wellbeing of local communities."
The company also makes significant contributions to the local community based organizations in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent through the Ridge Landfill Trust. For example, the Trust has contributed to the building of the Blenheim Rotary Park, construction of the Blenheim and Community Seniors Centre, and support for the Blenheim Youth Centre.
In addition to operating the Ridge Landfill, Waste Connections also provides residential waste and recycling collection services in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The company employs more than 60 people at its local landfill and collection services.
December 2016
April 2016
