Over the last few months, the McNab/Braeside community has been concerned about the potential installation of a Sustane Technologies pyrolysis plant at the Township landfill. I have joined many of you over the last few months to discuss our shared concerns for the environment but more importantly, for the protection of the health and safety of our community.
While the project has been championed by Mayor Peckett, Council has now adopted my recommendation that this proposed project be placed on ice while it is studied by Township staff. This allows our professional staff to review the facts and provide a informative report to the new Council. Despite the Mayor’s unacceptable actions up until this point, I believe that Council made the best decision to pause and study the project.
As a sitting Councillor, I have taken time to review the available information, spoken with local residents, experts and other municipal colleagues (locally and from Nova Scotia), and I have come to the conclusion that this project does not meet our community’s standards financially, environmentally nor from a health standpoint. It is an largely unproven technology that has not been refined to such a stage that it could be replicated in our community. To my knowledge, it has not undergone the level of environmental and health impact monitoring that would be necessary to prove its safety and efficacy. Indeed, the CEO of Sustane Technologies acknowledged at their public information session on August 18th, 2022 that the company is undertaking a $9 million project at their Chester, NS plant that will take another year to complete before it can even start the required testing under its current operating permit. That would mean that it is at least 2 to 2.5 years before sufficient data would be available to prove that the pyrolysis technology works as has been shown in the proponent’s sales presentation.
As a result, I will oppose this project when it comes forward for Council consideration but I also want to make it clear that Council must take a balanced approach to dealing with the company. Because Mayor Peckett decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sustane Technologies behind Council’s back, the Township has been placed in a legally precarious position. By doing our due diligence with a pending non-partisan staff report, Council is taking the responsible path to protect us from liability associated with “breaking” the MOU that Mayor Peckett signed. It will also provide the newly elected Members of Council with the appropriate background information to make an informed decision.
The new Council will be challenged to find solutions to divert waste from our landfill and to address the environmental hazards of landfill operations. However, I believe that this must be done in a transparent and collaborative process through which Council, Township staff and community members can work towards a more sustainable waste management program for our community.
Oliver Jacob for McNab/Braeside 