C&D Recycling Facilities Encounter Resistance

Residents of Harrietsfield and Antrim in Halifax, Nova Scotia, should know on Tuesday whether or not they’ll be living near a construction-debris dump.

After extensive public consultation, Halifax Regional Council is expected to make a decision tonight on both proposals.

Last month, residents from both communities came to City Hall to offer one alternative to a dump in their neighborhood — put it somewhere else.

About 50 people turned out to ask councilors to reject a request from Halifax Construction and Debris Recycling Ltd. for a C&D processing and disposal site in their community.

The proposed site, located at the intersection of Antrim Road and Old Guysborough Road, would handle about 18,000 metric tons of construction waste a year, most of which would be sent to the landfill.

The main objections to the Antrim site include fears the dump will contaminate nearby watersheds and wilderness areas in particular, the Dollar Lake Provincial Park and the Clattenburg Wilderness Area and lower property values.

And about 45 people turned out to say no to an application from RDM Recycling, located at 1275 Old Sambro Rd. in Harrietsfield, to operate a C&D dump site. The company already operates a C&D processing facility at that location.

Those living near the proposed site say the dump is too close to their homes, will further contaminate wells, pollute neighboring watersheds and wilderness areas, generate excessive truck traffic and affect their property values.

While city staff are recommending council approve the Antrim site, staff say the RDM proposal is too close to a residential area and should be rejected. The final decision, however, rests with council.

Currently, there are no licensed C&D disposal sites in HRM, which has led to the illegal dumping of construction debris, such as asphalt, shingles, wood and bricks, as well as large quantities of material being stockpiled.