Huron-Kinloss fined $20,000 for violations under Environmental Protection Act

Huron-Kinloss Township has been fined $20,000 for violations under the Environmental Protection Act, at the Huron Landfill, near Ripley.

A media release, issued Feb. 11 by the province, states that the convictions are for failing to comply with an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) by:
 

• Allowing waste to be received at a landfill outside of operating hours and without staff supervision
• Conducting unsupervised burning operations, including in an area open to the public in contravention of the facility’s Design and Operation Plan

The offences date back to June 28, 2023, with the conviction at the Ontario Court of Justice in Walkerton, Sept. 16, 2025.

The township was fined $16,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $4,000, and given 90 days to pay.

The media release states that Huron-Kinloss owns and operates the Huron Landfill site, also known as the Ripley Landfill, which is a waste disposal site located at 2087 Concession 6 East, near Ripley.

The use, operation and maintenance of the Huron Landfill site is regulated under the terms and conditions of an ECA. The ECA stipulates that no waste shall be received, landfilled or transferred from the site unless a site supervisor or attendant is present and is supervising operations during operating hours. The ECA also stipulates that the site shall be closed when a site attendant is not present to supervise landfilling and/or waste transfer operations.

June 28, 2023, an Environmental Compliance Officer attended the site to conduct an inspection. On that date, the landfill was closed to the public and the gate was locked. The officer observed a commercial waste-hauling truck approach the site. The driver unlocked the gate with a key before proceeding to deposit a load of waste at the landfill. There was no site supervisor or attendant present to supervise these activities.

After inquiring with Huron-Kinloss staff, the officer was informed that some commercial haulers had been provided with keys to the gate allowing them to enter the site outside of operating hours. This was in contravention of the facility’s ECA.

During the inspection June 28, 2023, the officer also observed two active burn piles at the site. One of the burn piles was in the leaf and yard waste area which was open and accessible to the public. The other was within the closed landfill area. There were no staff present to supervise the burn piles.

The facility’s ECA incorporates a design and operation plan which, in part, governs burning operations. The plan stipulates that burning operations are to be conducted only on days when the site is closed to the public and under the supervision of the site supervisor.

The Ontario environment ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid charges which resulted in the conviction.