Stinky west-end composter seeking to remain open until 2023
The source of a long-standing smell in west Edmonton will be allowed to operate for at least another two weeks.
Cleanit Greenit was back in court Thursday, looking for a path to stay open until it is able to challenge a 2021 closure order.
Alberta Environment and Parks revoked the composting facility's registration in April 2021, ordering it to close June 30, 2022. The company applied and was granted a stay against the licence revocation while it figured out its next move.
On Thursday, Cleanit Greenit was given a mid-August court date to determine whether it can remain open until Nov. 9, 2023, when a judicial review of the Environment and Parks' decision happens.
Cleanit Greenit, which did not respond to CTV News Edmonton's request for comment, argued it has taken numerous steps to address the odour and other environmental concerns.
However, a resident of the northwest neighbourhood Trumpeter says the "rotting diapers" odour wafting from the facility has returned in the spring and summer "in full force."
"Whatever they're doing is not working," Sarah Hunter told CTV News Edmonton.
"I’ve known people that have moved away from the area, even just across from us here, because they just couldn’t deal with it any more."
She and other community residents have been complaining about Cleanit Greenit for years. Before Environment and Parks revoked its licence in 2021, the department had received more than 800 odour complaints. Inspectors found "ongoing" and "persistent" issues related to air, land and water, including odour concerns and groundwater contaminants.
Hunter thought her fight was over when Cleanit Greenit's licence was taken away.
"We don't really see why they should be afforded even more delays," she commented.
"You hate to see any impact to a local business, but again, going back to the overall impact on the quality of life of residents has been really hard, and that can’t be ignored," Coun. Andrew Knack told CTV News Edmonton.
"To continue to drag it out isn’t fair to the residents in that area."
Cleanit Greenit will be back in court on Aug. 17 to hear whether it can remain open until the review in November.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.