It's a Fact These communities worked together to prevent the expansion of the Richmond landfill and have developed sustainable waste management alternatives throughout the region.

The groups were able to work together over 8 years to prevent this landfill development, which would have had catastrophic effects on the local environment. Their concerns included the associated risks of groundwater contamination, air toxicity, and poor leachate disposal practices, as well as the plans to dig up the present dump. In preventing the landfill expansion, they also generated awareness about the need to develop more sustainable alternatives throughout the region.

Some key players included: A local farmer who monitored the situation to make sure that the wider community was aware of developments at the site throughout the struggle; an octogenarian reeve, determined to protect the health of her small rural community; a Mohawk chief, whose community’s well water was threatened, and who was relentless in making this issue heard. Also on board were Queen’s University law experts, who volunteered time and expertise to submit lengthy scientific reports and a Canadian Environmental Law Association lawyer who worked tirelessly to represent the community. The region’s local mayors and councilors were supportive throughout, while regular citizens rallied en masse to hold fundraisers, public meetings, demonstrations, and letter writings, together submitting over 8000 letters of opposition.

In acknowledging that simply burying our waste is not a viable solution, this team has paved the way for implementing alternatives and creating the legislative and policy framework needed to support sustainable waste management.

Since the expansion of the Richmond landfill has been quashed, a waste management committee has been revitalized in order to help the community investigate more environmentally friendly waste disposal efforts. It is truly inspiring to see what a committed and determined group can achieve when they work together and bridge social and cultural divides