Overwhelming Landfill Smell Ruins Ontario Residents' Summer Days

A landfill in Ontario, Canada is ruining the quality of life for locals in the area, saying that the site produces an unbearable odor.

The landfill, a GFL Environmental facility, has existed for years but residents say the odor has become overwhelming in the past few months. The smell of garbage and rotten eggs have weighed heavily in the air, infecting a nearby park and neighborhood.

Concerned residents met at the Upper Red Hill Park to discuss the issue and hoped to get answers from Ward 9 councilor Brad Clark, MPP for Farmborough-Glandrook Donna Skelly and Stephen Burt, district manager in Hamilton with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

"I wanted to get some information about what the solutions are that they're discussing in regard to the stench and the actual toxicity in the air," said Kimberly Prawl, a resident of the area.

Prawl also mentioned that the smell is so intense that when she takes deep breaths, she can “taste” the “disgusting” odor. The stench has also caused her headaches and shortness of breath.

Clark mentioned that the site is a commercial landfill and is supposed to be for non-hazardous, industrial material and not municipal waste.

"Theoretically, there is not supposed to be odors," Clark said.

Burt mentioned that the smell is likely due to leachate and that the ministry has recently begun monitoring air quality in the area. Results of this testing didn’t reveal anything concerned but a full health report is in the works.

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