Why Stablex’s Toxic Waste Landfill Project in Blainville is a Danger for Quebec and the St. Lawrence Valley

Stablex, an American company, wants to bury hazardous and toxic waste in Blainville. We are talking here about waste containing mercury, cyanide, heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium and many other inorganic products that are extremely dangerous for health and ecosystems. It is another 8 million tons of toxic waste, or 4 times the Olympic Stadium, that Stablex wants to put in the ground for the next 40 years.

Stablex’s toxic waste comes from 800 km around according to its declarations. Still according to the figures provided by the company, it is 50% of buried waste, which is toxic waste that the United States and Ontario get rid of. What does Quebec have to gain by receiving toxic waste from its neighbours? Nothing absolutely nothing. Quebec even has everything to lose with the enormous risks of contamination in the medium and long term.

It’s time to say no to toxic waste from the United States and Ontario. With regard to toxic waste in Quebec, extensive reflection is required to demand reduction at source and then determine the safest places to dispose of it.

Blainville

The new site proposed by Stablex is adjacent to the Grande Tourbière de Blainville. It encroaches on valuable wetlands and woodlands that will be destroyed. The site is near an esker that feeds the groundwater table, a source of drinking water for farmers in the region.

An overflow of leachate (water in contact with toxic waste) following a torrential rain or a stoppage of the leachate pumps would contaminate not only the groundwater and the Great Blainville peatland, but also the stream. LockHead which flows into the Rivière aux Chiens, which feeds the Rivière des Mille-Îles to end its course in the St. Lawrence River. The entire St. Lawrence Valley is therefore at risk.

BAPE

Stablex claims that its concrete-stablex is effective in perpetuity, that “the geomembranes and the stablex product do not degrade over time”. Nothing less! His claims are far from proven. Indeed, during the BAPE meeting on March 8, a former Stablex subcontractor stated that on several occasions the concrete-stablex (mixture of concrete and inorganic hazardous waste) buried was not not even solidified.

In addition, concrete is a material that often disintegrates more or less quickly over time depending on the surrounding conditions. According to Stablex itself, the cells are not 100% waterproof, there is water seeping into the landfill cells. They have to pump this water because it is toxic and could contaminate the environment. The Stablex process seems much less safe than they claim.

The Stablex project is a totally absurd and completely irresponsible project. The BAPE will begin its technical work on the various aspects of the project in early May.

However, there are obvious political choices for Climat Québec. From now on, it is clear that ‘we must refuse to import toxic waste from the United States and Ontario. From now on, it is clear that we must protect an important wetland like the Great Blainville peatland. These are two reasons alone that disqualify the Stablex company’s toxic waste landfill project in Blainville.

Martine Ouellet, Head of Climat Québec, Former Minister of Natural Resources of Québec