Twin Creeks Environmental Centre Landfill Optimization Project

The draft Effects Assessment Reports are available for review. We ask that you provide any questions or comments to the study team using the contact information below by January 31, 2025.

Draft Air Quality Effects Assessment Report

Draft Archaeological Resources Effects Assessment Report

Draft Cultural Heritage Resources Effects Assessment Report

Draft Ecological Environment Effects Assessment Report

Draft Geology and Hydrogeology Effects Assessment Report

Draft Human Health Effects Assessment Report

Draft Land Use Effects Assessment Report

Draft Noise Effects Assessment Report

Draft Socio-Economic Environment Effects Assessment Report

Draft Surface Water Quality Effects Assessment Report

Draft Surface Water Quantity (Hydrology) Effects Assessment Report

Draft Transportation Effects Assessment Report

Draft Visual Landscape Effects Assessment Report

Draft Conceptual Design Report

WM held Public Information Session 3 for the EA on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, to provide an update on the Environmental Assessment (EA), present the three Alternative Methods being assessed in the EA, the preliminary results of the effects assessment, and the preliminary results of the comparative evaluation to select a Preferred Alternative, present next steps in the EA process, and obtain public input. Members of the public, agencies, Indigenous communities and other interested persons were encouraged to attend and provide comments on the information presented at Public Information Session 3 by December 13th, 2024. A copy of the Public Information Session 3 Summary Report, which includes the presented display materials, is available at the following link:

Public Information Session 3 Summary Report (January 7, 2025)

The draft Screening of Alternative Methods, confirming the preference for a Vertical Alternative Method, is also available below. The comment period closed on February 2, 2024.

Draft Screening of Alternative Methods Technical Memo

The purpose of the project is to increase the landfill airspace capacity at the Twin Creeks Environmental Centre (TCEC), including optimizing the landfill design and operation, maximizing the use of the constructed infrastructure and the significant investment made by WM at the TCEC. The landfill optimization could involve a vertical or horizontal expansion within the existing 301 ha site. This optimization project could provide additional landfill airspace of up to approximately 14M m³, which could extend the site life by approximately 12 years (from 2031 to 2043). The TCEC has approximately 11.6M m³ of approved airspace remaining, which is approximately 8 years of operating life. No changes are being proposed to the size of the current 301 ha site area, the approved service area, or the annual fill rate.

The development of additional landfill capacity within the TCEC site can be achieved through a vertical expansion within the currently approved 101.8 ha expansion landfill footprint or through a horizontal expansion into other areas of the TCEC site.

A vertical expansion would involve redesigning the originally planned and approved final contours of the 101.8 ha expansion landfill including potential changes to the grade of the side slopes and the peak elevation. There is a range of potential options for changes to the side slopes and peak elevation. These options are referred to as ‘alternative methods’.

A horizontal expansion within the overall TCEC site would likely require that development occur on the existing closed landfill area at the east of the site or within the southern portion of the site.

Based on a qualitative consideration of the potential vertical and horizontal expansion methods available within the site area, in addition to potentially locating waste in close proximity to the Village, the horizontal alternatives result in significant additional costs and do not optimize the use of the available and constructed infrastructure at the site to the extent possible. Given the financial, technological, and community risks and concerns associated with the horizontal alternative methods, WM has identified a preference for a vertical alternative method.

This project will provide longer-term certainty of service continuity to WM’s customers beyond the remaining 8 years of capacity.

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 101/07 under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and the Guide to Environmental Assessment Requirements for Waste Management Projects, the proposed project is designated as an undertaking to which the Act applies. It is essential for WM to start the Environmental Assessment (EA) approvals process now so that the necessary approvals are in place to allow an efficient implementation of the landfill optimization project. The purpose of the EA is to assess the potential effects of the proposed landfill optimization on the environment.

The first step in the EA process is the preparation of a Terms of Reference, which sets out the framework and work plan for addressing the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act requirements when preparing the EA. Details of the Terms of Reference preparation are provided below.

The Amended Terms of Reference (March 30, 2022) was approved by the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks on December 13, 2022. WM now intends to proceed with the second step of the process: preparation of the EA. The EA will be carried out according to the approved Terms of Reference and the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for review. At that time, the public, Indigenous communities and interested persons will be informed of when and where the EA can be reviewed.

The Notice of Commencement for the EA was published on April 5, 2023 and is provided below.

A Notice of Commencement of Environmental Assessment (EA) was published on April 5, 2023 and is available at the link below. The Notice advised that WM is beginning an EA under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act seeking approval to develop additional landfill disposal capacity as part of the optimization of the design and operation of the landfill at the Twin Creeks Environmental Centre (TCEC), located in the Township of Warwick, Ontario.

Notice of Commencement of Environmental Assessment (April 5, 2023)

Members of the public, agencies, Indigenous communities and other interested persons are encouraged to actively participate in the EA planning process by participating in consultation opportunities or contacting staff directly with comments or questions. Consultation and engagement opportunities are being planned throughout the EA process and will be advertised in local newspapers, here on the project website, and by direct and/or electronic mail (email).

To learn more about the project, consultation and engagement events, and/or to communicate questions, comments, or to be added to the project mailing list, please contact the following project team members:

Wayne Jenken
Area Landfill Manager, Eastern Canada Area
WM Canada
5768 Nauvoo Road, Watford, ON N0M 2S0
Phone: 519.849.5810
E-mail: [email protected]

Larry Fedec, P.Eng. M.B.A.
Solid Waste Program Lead, Canada
HDR Corporation
100 York Blvd., Suite 300, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1J8
Phone: 289.695.4696
E-mail: [email protected]

WM held Public Information Session 1 for the EA on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 to introduce the landfill optimization project and provide an overview of the EA process, and present the anticipated project milestones and consultation and engagement opportunities. Members of the public, agencies, Indigenous communities and other interested persons were encouraged to provide comments on the information presented at Public Information Session 1 by May 3, 2023. A copy of the Public Information Session 1 Summary Report, which includes the presented display materials, is available at the following link:

Public Information Session 1 Summary Report (July 7, 2023)

WM held Public Information Session 2 for the EA on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 and Tuesday, December 5, 2023 to provide an update on the Environmental Assessment (EA), present a screening of vertical and horizontal alternative methods, provide a summary of existing conditions, present next steps in the EA process, and obtain public input. Members of the public, agencies, Indigenous communities and other interested persons were encouraged to attend and provide comments on the information presented at Public Information Session 2 by December 22, 2023. A copy of the Public Information Session 2 Summary Report, which includes the presented display materials, is available at the following link:

Public Information Session 2 Summary Report (January 19, 2024)

The Terms of Reference provides the framework and requirements for the preparation of the EA for the proposed undertaking. Following review of the Terms of Reference by members of the public, agencies, Indigenous communities, and other interested persons, the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks approved the Terms of Reference (Amended, March 30, 2022) on December 13, 2022. A copy of the approved Terms of Reference (Amended, March 30, 2022), a summary of the amendments to the proposed Terms of Reference (January 7, 2022) and the Notice of Approval are available at the following links:

Terms of Reference Twin Creeks Environmental Centre Landfill Optimization Project Environmental Assessment (Amended, March 30, 2022)

Summary of Amendments to Proposed Terms of Reference (January 7, 2022)

Terms of Reference – Notice of Approval, December 13, 2022

As part of the EA process, a proposed Terms of Reference (ToR) was submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for review as required under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). The ToR was available for public review from January 7, 2022 through February 6, 2022, on the Project website and at the Township of Warwick Municipal Office and the Watford Library.

Members of the public, agencies, Indigenous communities, and other interested persons were encouraged to actively participate in reviewing and providing comments on the ToR. Written comments on the ToR were to be submitted to the MECP Project Officer by February 6, 2022.

The Draft Terms of Reference (ToR) was available for public review and comment from June 15 through July 13, 2021. Members of the public, agencies, Indigenous communities and other interested persons were encouraged to actively participate in reviewing and providing comments on the Draft ToR. It was requested that any questions or comments be provided to the study team by July 13, 2021. All comments received as part of this review were considered in the preparation of the proposed ToR submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for approval on January 7, 2022 (above).