Tomlinson Environmental Services fined over $35K for non-compliance

Tomlinson Environmental Services Ltd., a division of the Tomlinson Group of Companies, has been fined after being convicted of three violations under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).

According to a release from the Ontario government, Tomlinson Environmental Services Ltd. provides environmental and waste management services in Eastern Ontario and operates a composting facility in the City of Kingston known as Tomlinson Organics. Tomlinson Organics converts green bin and leaf/yard waste into high-grade compost and topsoil.

The province noted that the composting site is regulated under two Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs). In November 2020, staff from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks conducted an inspection at the Kingston facility and found that the company was in non-compliance with several conditions set out in the ECAs.

According to the province, the ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid charges, which resulted in convictions for offences which began on or about March 12, 2020, and ended on or about June 2, 2022.

The convictions are for failing to comply with ministry approval by:

• Failing to provide the ministry with a re-evaluation of the amount of financial assurance;
• Failing to ensure that a composting pile is monitored for temperature and oxygen content on a daily basis; and
• Failing to cover windows with an approved GORE covering system.

The organization has been fined fined $34,500 plus a victim fine surcharge of $8,625, and given 120 days to pay.

Kingstonist has enquired with the ministry as to how the violations came to their attention, how the ministry follows up throughout an EPA violation investigation, and what happens if Tomlinson does not pay within the 120 days. No response was received by time of publication.

This article will be updated if/when more information becomes available.