(Editor’s Note: It may seem that all issues with the Carp Road Landfill have been quiet, but West Carleton resident Harold Moore keeps focused on all new developments. Harold has been a formidable voice in the fight against the landfill expansion and his voice continues to raise concerns.)
As we all have been getting on with our busy lives, work at the Carp Road Landfill has been progressing. One condition of the approved Environmental Assessment was to set up a Public Liaison Committee (PLC) to provide “open and transparent dialogue between the community and the company”. Meetings of the PLC have been very infrequent in recent years as development at the site has progressed. As the site gets closer to becoming operational, the PLC will have to be more open and transparent to two-way communications. If not, there is a chance for conflict between the community and Waste Management like what has happened in the past.
Will the West Carleton Environmental Centre (WCEC) be operational this summer? How many garbage trucks will be on Carp Rd.? Where will the garbage come from? If you don’t know, you are not alone.
Part of the Environmental Assessment for the site required a Public Liaison Committee (WCEC/PLC) be set up to function primarily to provide information on the undertaking and act as a forum for public concerns to be raised and for mitigation measures to be discussed where appropriate.
When the PLC was established in 2014 it was to meet monthly, but generally met 4 times a year for 2014 and 2015. After that it met once in 2016 and 2017. After that there was one more meeting in 2023. Information on these PLC meetings is available on the WCEC website (West Carleton Environmental Centre – About Us | Waste Management).
Now that the landfill site is close to being operational it is important that the public be brought up to speed on current and future project activities at the site. If the PLC is to truly be a Public Liaison Committee, then communications with the public must more frequent and an easy two-way communications channel.
When should the next WCEC/PLC meeting be expected and will the community be able to see the proposed agenda with a chance to comment and ask questions for discussion?