Warwick Township's mayor says a recent change to the landfill complaint process may be a step in the right direction, depending on how grievances are dealt with.
As announced on October 6, residents who experience odour, dust, noise or other issues related to Waste Management's Twin Creeks Landfill can report their concerns through a dedicated phoneline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The line (1-800-465-4551) will be monitored by Answer Plus, and information will be provided directly to Twin Creeks onsite staff.
Mayor Todd Case said they have always pushed Waste Management to have better communication and to make the process easier for people.
"This is a step potentially in the right direction, it all depends on how Waste Management deals with the complaints after they get them. That'll be the proof in the pudding," Case told Sarnia News Today.
The municipality had noted an increase in complaints last year, and Case said it's something that has continued.
"Lately again, the odor issues have been almost daily," he said. "From our standpoint, a lot of people get to the point when you go through the process and you don't get a proper response back from Waste Management or the Ministry of Environment, people stop complaining. But we continue to still get them."
Meanwhile, Case said complaints have also come up regarding the new Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility.
Waste Management has started the testing phase to prepare for the upcoming opening of its RNG plant, read a post on the municipality's website.
During the testing and commissioning process (of roughly six weeks) people in the area may notice potential odours and flaring.
"The whole goal here is to have less of those odour days in our community moving forward," Case said. "They told me a long time ago, we will see 85 per cent less odour days because of the new technologies they're putting in at the site. Again, we'll wait and see if that happens."
Construction of the RNG facility on Nauvoo Road began in 2024 after Waste Management announced plans in 2023.
Case said they haven't received a specific date for when the RNG facility will be operational but he suspects it will be some time this fall.
