Greenstone Waste Management Environmental Assessment

During this process, engineers and environmental scientists will study ways to reduce and manage waste within the region of Greenstone. The purpose is to create a long-term plan to manage and dispose of the Municipality of Greenstone's solid waste.

Three rounds of engagement are planned with the communities of Greenstone, Indigenous communities, and organizations in the area.

KGS Group and Scatliff + Miller + Murray have been retained to assist the Municipality of Greenstone in the development of the plan.

The EA process is split into three rounds of engagement that aligns with key engineering milestones.

  • Round 1: Gather feedback on new ways to reduce and manage waste (2022-2024)
  • Round 2: Review options & determine a waste management system (Ongoing)
  • Round 3: Identification of the preferred waste management system and site (2026)

ROUND 1

PUBLIC EVENTS

  • Longlac Open House
    • November 7, 2022 | 3:00 to 7:00 PM | Longlac Sportsplex
  • Nakina Open House
    • November 8, 2022 | 3:00 TO 7:00 PM | Nakina Community Centre
  • Geraldton Open House
    • November 9, 2022 | 3:00 TO 7:00 PM | Geraldton Community Centre
  • Beardmore Open House
    • November 10, 2022 | 3:00 TO 7:00 PM | Beardmore Community Centre

INDIGENOUS EVENTS

  • First Nations (conducted in coordination with Nokiiwin Tribal Council and Matawa First Nations)
    • Thunder Bay First Nations Open House Event
      • March 20, 2023 | 4:00 to 8:00 pm | Victoria Inn, Thunder Bay
    • Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek (AZA) Engagement
      • Conducted by AZA leadership
    • Ginoogaming First Nation Leadership and Community Event
      • April 19, 2023 | 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Ginoogaming First Nation Training Centre
    • Long Lake 58 First Nation Leadership and Community Event
      • April 20, 2023 | 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Long Lake 58 First Nation Community Centre
    • Aroland First Nation Leadership and Community Event
      • April 26, 2023 | 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Johnny Therriault School Gym
    • Biinjitwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek Leadership and Community Event
      • April 27, 2023 | 4:30 to 7:00 PM | Community Hall
    • Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek Community Meeting Booth
      • June 24, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Prince Arthur Hotel, Thunder Bay
  • Métis Nations
    • Métis Nation of Ontario - Leadership Meeting
      • August 1, 2023 | 6:00 to 7:00 PM | Online Meeting
    • Métis Nation of Ontario - Geraldton Community Open House
      • September 26, 2023 | 3:00 to 7:00 PM | Geraldton Community Centre
    • Métis Nation of Ontario - Thunder Bay Community Open House
      • September 28, 2023 | 4:00 to 8:00 PM | Oliver Road Community Center, Thunder Bay
    • Red Sky Métis Independent Nation Leadership Meeting
      • January 26, 2024 | 10:00 to 11:00 AM | Online Meeting

 

ROUND 2

PUBLIC EVENTS

  • Longlac Open House
    • May 7, 2024 | 3:00 TO 7:00 PM | Longlac Sportsplex
  • Nakina Open House
    • May 8, 2024 | 3:00 TO 7:00 PM | Nakina Community Centre
  • Geraldton Open House
    • May 9, 2024 | 3:00 TO 7:00 PM | Geraldton Community Centre
  • Beardmore Open House
    • May 10, 2024 | 3:00 TO 7:00 PM | Beardmore Community Centre
  • Public Online Event
    • July 11, 2024 | 3:00 to 7:00 PM | Online

 

INDIGENOUS EVENTS

  • Biinjitwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek Community Event
    • June 4, 2024 | 1:00 to 4:00 PM | Community Hall
  • Online First Nations Event (conducted in coordination with Nokiiwin Tribal Council and Matawa First Nations)
    • June 25, 2024 | 6:00 to 7:30 PM | Online Event
  • Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek Annual General Meeting
    • September 7, 2024 | 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM | Engagement Booth
  • Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek (AZA) Community Event
    • October 8, 2024 | 2:00 to 4:00 PM | Geraldton Community Centre
  • Ginoogaming First Nation Community Event
    • October 9, 2024 | 3:00 to 7:00 PM | Ginoogaming First Nation Training Center
  • Aroland First Nation Community Event
    • October 10, 2024 | 3:00 to 7:00 PM | Johnny Therriault School Gym
  • Long Lake #55 First Nation Community Event
    • November 24, 2025 | 1:00 to 4:00 PM | Long Lake 58 First Nation Community Centre

Note: Métis Nation of Ontario and Red Sky Métis Independent Nation chose to attend the Public Open Houses instead of having separate events.

There are four municipal operated landfills in the communities of Geraldton, Longlac, Nakina, and Beardmore. The life expectancies of the facilities are based on the current volumes of waste.

Current Capacity
  • Geraldton landfill was closed in 2021.
  • Longlac landfill has an estimated 5 years of capacity remaining.
  • Beardmore landfill was near capacity but received an expansion in 2023 and now has approximately 37 years of capacity remaining.
  • The Nakina facilities has approximately 50 years of capacity remaining.
WHY IS THIS PROJECT NEEDED?

A long-term solution is needed for the management of solid waste for the region. Development of this solution requires initiating an Environmental Assessment study to evaluate alternatives for waste management, identification of a preferred system, and selection of a preferred site. 

The Environmental Assessment process is guided by the Municipality of Greenstone Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Plan Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference was completed in 2013 and approved by Ministry of Environment in 2014/15. It acts as a road map for the current process including steps required in the study and consultation process.

 

Round 1

The primary goal of Round 1 was to introduce the project and EA process and engage the public in the four sub-areas and surrounding Indigenous communities on an overall vision for the new system and gather input on potential opportunities and challenges for the new Waste Management System (WMS).

Round 1 engagement was initiated after the distribution of the Notice of Commencement in September 2022 and was completed in January 2024. In addition, Cultural Values Mapping was introduced to all Indigenous communities and initiated in Round 1.

Objectives

  • Explore and discuss types of waste management operations and systems.
  • Explore waste diversion strategies.
  • Explore local vs regional services/operations.
  • Gather information of existing systems, wants, and needs.
  • Identify priorities on different opportunities and criteria on the evaluation of potential short-listed sites as well as local/regional types of services.
  • Introduce the need for value mapping in future rounds of engagement.

 

Round 2

The primary goal of Round 2 is to introduce the Waste Management System (WMS) and site selection process to the public in the four sub-areas and surrounding Indigenous communities.

Round 2 engagement was initiated in February 2024 after the completion of Round 1 engagement. Cultural Values Mapping with Indigenous communities is happening simultaneously.

Objectives

  • Explore and discuss types of waste management systems and evaluation criteria.
  • Collect feedback on preferred waste management systems.
  • Present site exclusion criteria and potential sites for the future waste management system.
  • Collect feedback potential on sites for the future waste management system.
  • Present site evaluation and final selection criteria.

Cultural Values Mapping with Indigenous communities is a critical step that will inform the site selection criteria for the New Waste Management System (WMS) in Round 3. It was initiated at the end of Round 1 engagement and will be completed during Round 2 engagement.

Cultural Values Mapping is being conducted independently by community leadership or the Tribal Council associated with the First Nation with support from the project team as needed. The process developed aims to protect access and ownership of Indigenous cultural values data.

Communities involved in this process include:

  • Nokiiwin Tribal Council
    • Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek 
    • Biinjitwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek 
    • Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek 
  • Matawa First Nations
    • Aroland First Nation  
    • Ginoogaming First Nation 
    • Long Lake #58 First Nation 
  • Métis Nation of Ontario 
  • Red Sky Métis Independent Nation 

Contact Us

Municipality of Greenstone
1800 Main Street, PO Box 70
Geraldton, ON P0T 1M0

Phone: 807-854-1100