Battery recycling company EVSX wants to start operating out of the former Hayes Dana Plant in Thorold South, but City Council is hesitant to fully endorse the project.
Just last year, the former Hayes Dana Plant became part of the Thorold Multimodal Hub and in the summer the first tenant moved in.
Now, EVSX wants to set up shop at the facility as well, to start receiving, sorting, and recycling alkaline batteries. But first, they need to pass an environmental review by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
To speed up that process, EVSX has asked city council to send in a letter of support, but councillors worry about the possibility of lithium batteries being processed at the plant.
The city’s Manager of Economic Development, Ken Scholtens, was on hand at Tuesday’s city council meeting to give some background to the project.
“This is the ministry looking for environmental compliance,” Scholtens told council members. “Should they get that approval, it will still have to go through a proper building process in which fire, planning, and building will be consulted, as well as engineering, to ensure it meets all local city by-laws and requirements.”
Because there is a long queue of applications at the Ministry of Environment, the letter of endorsement could help "move their application to the top of that queue,” said Scholtens.
But Councillor Jim Handley is worried that the facility will bring massive quantities of lithium batteries into the community.
"That could be a ticking time bomb,” he said.
Back in 2007, there was a big explosion involving lithium batteries at Clean Harbors Canada in Port Robinson. The incident literally shook up the neighbourhood and has not been forgotten by local residents.
While it is EVSX’s intent to eventually process lithium batteries, Scholtens is adamant that the scope of the project only includes alkaline batteries for now.
“This is the first stage of a multi-phase project that is starting with alkaline battery recycling,” Scholtens said. “Every phase will require an ESA application and will need to get approval from the ministry.”
The limited scope of the letter put some councillors at ease.
“This review is going to take place no matter whether we support it or not,” said Councillor Anthony Longo. “This is out of our jurisdiction.”
Both Councillor Longo and Councillor Tim O’Hare sit on the city’s Environment, Climate Change, and Biodiversity Committee where EVSX recently gave a presentation about their plans for Thorold South.
“They actually turn alkaline batteries into alkaline that goes into fertilizer which is used for crops,” Councillor Longo told his fellow council members. “I guess it’s a pretty unique way to solve a problem that man has created.”
That's why the environmental committee has cautiously gotten on board with the project.
“The committee has agreed that the work should be allowed to proceed forward should they meet all the requirements that the provincial government has asked them to apply for,” said Councillor O’Hare. “This is simply a request to have the process started a little bit sooner rather than later. That’s all we’re agreeing to at this point.”
With their fears put at ease, council unanimously decided to sign the letter of support as long as it only makes mention of alkaline batteries.
Now it’s up to the Ontario Ministry of Environment to review EVSX’s application.
