Sludge hauler pleads guilty, fined

Residents near lands that received papermill sludge waste in southern Ontario recently learned that Power Grow Systems Inc., a company that hauls and land-applies sewage sludge and papermill sludge, pled guilty to a number of charges related to environment violations. One included spreading paper sludge at a rate higher than 164 tonnes per hectare.

On October 9, 2003, in St. Catharines court, Power Grow pled guilty to two counts under section 186(3) of the Environmental Protection Act, one count under section 40 of the Environmental Protection Act, one count under section 53(1) of the Ontario Water Resources Act, and one count under section 107(3) of the Ontario Water Resources Act. The company was fined $3,000 and $5,000 on each of the section 186(3) E.P.A. charges, $3,000 on the section 40 E.P.A. charge, $5,000 on the section 53(1) O.W.R.A. charge, and $4,000 on the section 107(3) O.W.R.A. charge.

For further information contact Mark Rabbior, Ontario Ministry of Environment, 416-314-6084