Introduction

Proponent

District Municipality of Muskoka

Location

Town of Bracebridge

Type

Waste

Reference Number

04078

Contact

Environmental Approvals Branch, 416-314-8001
Toll free 1-800-461-6290

Current Status

Environmental assessment: approved, January 22, 2009

Project Summary

The proposed undertaking is an expansion of the Rosewarne Drive Landfill in Bracebridge to secure a long-term solution for Muskoka’s waste disposal needs.

Project History

  • Environmental assessment: approved
    • Date submitted:  September 21, 2007
    • Expiry of public comment period: November 9, 2007
    • Expiry of public comment period for Ministry Review: February 8, 2008
    • Decision date: January 22, 2009
  • Terms of reference: approved
    • Date submitted:  October 22, 2004
    • Expiry of public comment period:  November 22, 2004
    • Decision date: January 17, 2005

Environmental Assessment

The District Municipality of Muskoka (Muskoka) has completed the environmental assessment for the Long Range Solid Waste Management Plan. The proposed undertaking is an expansion of the Rosewarne Drive Landfill in Bracebridge to secure a long-term solution for Muskoka’s waste disposal needs. Despite aggressive diversion initiatives by Muskoka, there will continue to be a residual waste stream that requires disposal in the future. The expansion will have a disposal capacity of 950,000 tonnes of waste and is expected to last until 2035.

The Long Range Solid Waste Management Plan Environmental Assessment study process has been summarized in a documentation report, for submission to the Ontario Minister of the Environment for formal review and approval, in accordance with Section 6.2 (1) of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, and the approved Terms of Reference for the project.

A Notice of Completion of the ministry’s Review was published on January 9, 2008. A five-week public comment period on the Review expired on February 8, 2008, during which time any person was able to make comments about the proposed undertaking, the EA, and the ministry’s Review. All those who comment on the EA or the ministry’s Review received notice of the Minister’s decision.

Cabinet approved the undertaking on January 22, 2009.

Terms of Reference

Muskoka has a population of approximately 53,000 permanent residents with approximately 100,000 additional seasonal residents. Waste management services for this population are provided by Muskoka and include a combination of diversion and landfill disposal. There is just over 10 years of disposal capacity remaining in the combination of Muskoka’s three existing landfill sites in Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst.

Muskoka is preparing a Long Range Waste Management Plan to determine the preferred way to meet the waste management needs of the community until at least 2035. The plan will consider opportunities for both waste diversion and waste disposal. A Diversion Plan will be prepared to document recommended waste diversion activities for Muskoka. Even with an aggressive diversion plan, additional disposal capacity will be needed and Muskoka will require approval under the Environmental Assessment Act.

The purpose of the Terms of Reference is to describe and set the scope of the process that will be followed to determine the rationale for additional disposal capacity, the preferred method for disposal in Muskoka and the process to assess its environmental effects and mitigation.