Current status

On March 26, 2026, we gave the Town of Blind River approval to proceed with an expansion of its existing landfill.

Learn more about the notice of approval.

Project summary

The Town of Blind River has been given approval under the Environmental Assessment Act to horizontally expand its existing landfill, increasing the landfilling area from 2 to 4 hectares while adding approximately 201,203 cubic metres of waste disposal capacity. The additional capacity is expected to extend the life of the landfill for 25 years. The waste will include:

  • residential and commercial waste
  • non-hazardous solid industrial waste
  • iron sludge waste generated from a potable water treatment facility
  • biosolids waste generated from the municipal sewage treatment plant

Learn more on the Blind River Municipal Waste Management Plan website.

Proponent

Town of Blind River

Location

Town of Blind River, located approximately halfway between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury

Type

Waste management

Reference number

07018

Contact

Devon Wills, Environmental Assessment Branch

Project history

Environmental assessment: approved
Date submitted: August 30, 2024
Expiry of public comment period for ministry review: July 28, 2025
Decision date: March 26, 2026

Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: February 20, 2008
Expiry of public comment period: March 25, 2008
Decision date: July 11, 2008

Environmental assessment

The Town of Blind River submitted its final environmental assessment for the Blind River Municipal Waste Management Plan project to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for review and decision in August 2024. This assessment evaluated long-term solid waste management options and identified an expansion of the existing landfill as the preferred alternative.  A 7-week Indigenous community, public, and agency comment period concluded on October 18, 2024.

On June 20, 2025, the ministry published the ministry review of the environmental assessment for Indigenous community, public and agency comment.  A 5-week comment period concluded on July 28, 2025.

After considering the environmental assessment, comments received and the Town’s proposed environmental protection measures, the Minister, with Cabinet concurrence, approved the project as described in the Blind River Municipal Waste Management Plan environmental assessment on March 26, 2026.

The Town may now proceed with implementing the project, subject to the conditions in the notice of approval and any other permits and approvals that may be required. Conditions of approval include:

  • a requirement to comply with the environmental assessment, and commitments made
  • public record documentation requirements
  • compliance monitoring provisions
  • an approval expiry date
  • additional requirements for the groundwater monitoring program, including the need to reassess the size of the contaminant attenuation zone
  • a condition about a complaint protocol

Read the Order in Council and notice of approval.

Terms of reference

On July 11, 2008, the minister approved the terms of reference for this project.

View the notice of approval.