The company wanting to reactivate a dormant landfill in Dresden has withdrawn its court application against the Municipality of Chatham-Kent (CK).
York1 Environmental Solutions filed the court application in November 2025, arguing that its proposed landfill and waste transfer facility did not require local land-use planning or zoning approvals from the municipality. The municipality disagreed.
The municipality said it received a formal notice from York1 on Thursday saying it's abandoning the court application, meaning the company has ended its court application entirely, but not the project.
"As a reminder, the court case was not a final determination of whether York1 can proceed with its proposed landfill and waste processing project. The court case would have only dealt with whether local zoning requirements apply to York1’s proposed project," a statement from the municipality said.
York1 said it's not seeking a Minister's Zoning Order and the matter will go through the regular municipal planning channels.
"York1 has chosen to move this matter out of the courts and into the land use planning process. It intends to apply to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for a zoning by-law amendment, so the proposal can be assessed on its planning merits through the normal public process," York1 spokesperson Laryssa Waler said.
York1 added the best path forward is an open, public process and hopes the municipality will work collaboratively with them through the planning process.
CK Council will have the final word on any planning application.
According to the municipality, the application's withdrawal could result in future public meetings being held and appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
The OLT is a provincial tribunal responsible for adjudicating land use planning and related matters in Ontario.
The court hearing to be held on November 17 over the contentious proposal at 29831 Irish School Road in Dresden will now be cancelled.
