CLOSED TARO DUMP FINGERED FOR LEACHATE'S DDT

'VERY LOW-LEVEL DETECTION' OF BANNED TOXIN FOUND IN SINGLE SAMPLE, GFL SAYS

GFL Environmental Inc. says a sample of leachate from the Taro industrial dump that had traces of the banned pesticide DDT came from a monitoring well at the neighbouring closed west quarry dump.

A written response to questions raised at the December meeting of the operating Taro east quarry dump's community liaison committee meeting states the toxin was present in a single sample at a concentration of 0.00006 parts per million.

At the time, citizen member Chris Hagg said he was surprised the active dump's 2021 annual report showed traces of DDT and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the leachate, sent into the sewer system.

The use of DDT, or dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, was phased out in the mid-1970s and banned in 1985, the same year PCBs were also banned.

But GFL's response states that 2021 leachate monitoring results reported no traces of PCBs "and it is not clear why PCBs were raised as a potential issue at the CLC."

It notes the west quarry dump opened in 1980, before DDT was banned.

"The source of the very low-level detection within this sample could be residual material associated with waste historically landfilled in the closed facility," GFL states.

"It is important to note that most leachate samples from the closed facility do not have DDT or any other pesticides reported at any concentration. Detections of DDT in the leachate are low, and within the acceptable range for discharge to the sanitary sewer."

While Hagg's concerns were on the agenda for the CLC's March 13 online meet

ing, he wasn't present and the committee didn't discuss GFL's written response, which had been provided to members beforehand.

But citizen member Jeff Isowa and area Coun. Brad Clark did ask about an area resident's email inquiry about whether the active dump is piling waste higher than allowed, "creating an unsightly condition in our neighbourhood."

Wes Connor said he's concerned GFL hasn't placed any waste in a 17-hectare section by Green Mountain Road that is part of a 2019 expansion approved by the province and is instead dumping waste within the site's former footprint.

Site manager Lorenzo Alfano said waste is being moved and piled higher to allow for the construction of "several cells" that will be added by Green Mountain Road. "Once we construct the liner system we will relocate the waste down," he said, as GFL "clearly states" in the email response to Connor.

"I'm aware, but I want to get it on the record here, too, if you don't mind," said Clark, who along with other CLC members had been copied on GFL's response.

"I do get people raising the concern that the landfill is much higher than it's supposed to be and I think they're right, but as the company builds the cells, they have to move the waste up in order to open up and make sure that seal is good on that liner."

GFL's email response to Connor states that construction of a liner cell by Green Mountain Road was completed late last year.

"Waste placement is now focused in this area and will continue in the northern portion of the site as new cells are developed," it states.

"The continued construction of new cells will allow for the relocation of waste from the southern portion of the site and regrading of these areas to the approved final contours prior to final cover construction."