Environmental violations land municipality $20,000 fine

The Township of Huron-Kinloss was fined by the Ministry of Environment for landfill infractions.

A trip to the Ripley Landfill by a Ministry of Environment inspector, has landed the Municipality of Huron-Kinloss is some hot water.

Huron-Kinloss was convicted of two violations of Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act for allowing waste at their landfill site outside operating hours without staff supervision, and for having unsupervised burns at the landfill site.

On June 28, 2023, a Ministry of Environment inspector visited the Ripley Landfill for an inspection. They said they arrived to find a commercial waste hauler using the site outside operating hours.

Court heard that municipal staff gave keys to some commercial haulers so they could access the landfill site when they needed to, which is a violation of Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act.

The ministry inspector said they also found two separate burn piles that day at the landfill with no staff supervision, which also contravenes Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act.

Huron-Kinloss faces a $20,000 fine, after being convicted on the environmental charges, in September 2025.