Two grain companies warn they may stop buying Timiskaming farm products unless Bennett Environmental Ltd. alleviates their concerns about a proposed hazardous waste incinerator for Kirkland Lake.
Dover Flour of Cambridge and Halton Flour Milling in Halton Hills want scientific proof from Bennett that there will be no impact on agricultural products grown in the area. Both companies fear possible repercussions from suppliers in sourcing wheat from an area with potential health issues. It is estimated Halton and Dover represent more than $2 million in area wheat purchases.
Similar concerns have been voiced by milk producer Parmalat, which has stated it cannot guarantee to continuing purchasing local milk if the Bennett project proceeds, citing consumer pressures may force them to buy milk from another source.
The Temiskaming Federation of Agriculture has commissioned an independent review of Bennett's environmental assessment documents, now in the hands of the Ministry of Environment.
Bennett officials maintain the plant, which would treat up to 200,000 tonnes of solid hazardous waste annually, will be state-of-the-art with emissions well below provincial regulations.
