Clarkson said odours from the waste soil was causing sickness and eye irritation among local residents.

There was fear among Caledon folks that the waste would leach into the water supply.

Why was Caledon chosen to take the soil?

Peel Region officials said Caledon's landfill was chosen as the dumping site because it was not surrounded by a built-up area that could be affected by the sweetish odour emitted by the styrene in the soil.

So, what happened?

At the news of a protest from Caledon, the region ordered the trucking to stop until the issue could be re-examined.

Ontario Environment Ministry officials tried to convince Peel to let CP Rail continue to dump in Caledon arguing the soil posed no threat to health or environment.

They said the soil needed to be moved from the railway site because it was a danger to animals or people who may wander onto it.

Whereas the landfill in Caledon was fenced. And the contaminated soil would be diluted — mixed with landfill.

Did the soil get dumped in Caledon?

Peel Region and Caledon refused to back down.

On Dec. 22, all the remaining soil was taken to the new Britannia dump, which had not yet opened.

The soil was to be placed in a vault at the dump separate from the normal garbage.

The soil that had been dumped in Caledon was also removed and taken to the vault.

At the time of the protest, one farmer was quoted in the Toronto Star as saying: "They think we are just rural people who don't have the resources to stop this. If this stuff is so wonderful, why don't they keep it in Mississauga?"

Haven an interesting story to share? We want to hear from you. Email the newsroom at editorial@caledonenterprise.com.







