Mississauga ordered to track down sites that may have received tainted street sweepings
Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment has accused the city of inadequately testing its street sweepings before sending it as free sandy fill to an estimated 47 sites, including a campground and several farms.
Mississauga says landowners were told of the origin of the street sweepings and provided with the results of its testing. (Picture: ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE /TORONTO STAR)
By JESSE MCLEANInvestigative News reporter
Sun., April 2, 2017
Mississauga is hiring a forensic consultant to track down more than a dozen sites across southern Ontario that may have received arsenic- and lead-contaminated dirt swept from the city’s streets.
Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment has accused the city of inadequate testing before sending its street sweepings as free sandy fill to an estimated 47 sites, including a campground and several farms.
The province ordered the city in November to test or even dig up thousands of tonnes of street grit. Mississauga, however, is appealing that directive, arguing that the material does not pose a risk and removing it could cost tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars. Continue reading