Speaking recently with The Globe and Mail, Jessica Boily, a partner in Gowling WLG's Environmental Law Group, commented on the growing challenges faced by municipalities and proponents in obtaining approvals for new or expanded landfill sites in Ontario.

The article centres on the town of Dresden, Ontario, which has become a focal point in the broader debate around landfill development in the province. Jessica explains that Bill 197—Ontario's COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020—introduced legislative changes that make it significantly harder to establish new landfills, particularly on undeveloped or "greenfield" land. As a result, proponents are increasingly looking to expand existing sites with prior environmental approvals—a strategy Jessica referred to as the "Dresden approach."

"By making it prohibitively difficult to open new landfills, Bill 197 has created an environment that encourages proponents to take this Dresden approach," said Jessica, adding that many older, now-closed landfills are located in areas that have since been developed—further complicating long-term planning and waste management decisions.

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Environmental Law at Gowling WLG
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