Community Partnerships
Community Partnerships
Waste Connections is committed to being a good neighbour and a responsible partner in the communities we serve. In the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the Ridge Landfill has become an integral part of the economic and social fabric having operated in the region for over 50 years. This will continue as over the next 20 years the Ridge Landfill will contribute over $120 million on a direct basis to the local economy; to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Ridge Landfill’s neighbouring communities in South-Kent.
These contributions include, among other things, an annual royalty payment to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and significant financial contributions made to the Ridge Landfill Community Trust.
Ridge Landfill Community Trust
Over the years, community contributions from the Ridge Landfill Community Trust have included those to the Blenheim Seniors Centre, Talbot Trail Place, Blenheim Youth Centre, Charing Cross Ball Diamonds, Blenheim District High School, the New Animal Shelter, C-K Police Services, the Blenheim Gymnastics Club, the Blenheim Fire Station, Blenheim Skating Club, the Hockey Club, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, breakfast programs, bereavement programs and numerous other initiatives.
Now, since the Ministry of Environment, Conservation & Parks (MECP) approval of the Environmental Assessment for the Ridge Landfill expansion in 2020, the Ridge Landfill Community Trust can look forward to a future of continued community contributions.
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority
"Million Trees"
In 2020 the Ridge Landfill Community Trust donated $1 million dollars to the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) for tree planting, prairie and wetland restoration in the South Kent region. To date over $152,000 has been spent, and matched by other partners like Forests Ontario, Ducks Unlimited Canada and OPG.
This generous donation has resulted in over 66 acres of land being retired and restored back to nature with over 28,000 trees planted, 10 acres of prairie planted and over 14 newly excavated wetlands. These new features will benefit citizens in the form of carbon sequestration, improved water quality, flood protection to name but a few.
Blenheim Community Centres
Blenheim Seniors Centre & Blenheim Youth Centre
In years prior the Ridge Landfill Community Trust provided close to $1 million for the building of the new Seniors Centre facility which now boasts a membership of over 600 people — a 100% increase in the first year alone.
The Ridge Landfill Community Trust has provided significant financial support for programs at the Blenheim Youth Centre. The Centre provides youth with a wide variety of after school and summer programs in a safe and nurturing environment facilitated by staff and volunteers.
Talbot Trail Place
Talbot Trail Place
Talbot Trail Place officially opened in 2015. The land for the park and three building structures were donated by the Ridge Landfill Community Trust. The Trust contribution was somewhere in the order of $1 million. The now former brownfield required remediation efforts that were also supported by the Ridge Landfill. The Trust continues to support the Rotary Club with ongoing park operations and maintenance costs.
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Waste Connections of Canada
We directly sponsor numerous community events throughout Chatham-Kent on an annual basis.
Whether its Canada Day fireworks or the Chatham RetroFest, Waste Connections of Canada can be counted on to support the local community. Some of the other groups we have provided support to include the Chatham BIA, Festival of Giving, Street Festival - Highgate, Canadian Cancer Society- Mud Run, Ultimate Rodeo Tour- Paincourt, Ribs & Blues Fest- Shrewsbury, Habitat for Humanity, Community Living Chatham-Kent, Community Living Wallaceburg, Title Sponsor Great Erie Fishing Derby, FireFest, FlightFest, Crimestoppers Ultimate Rodeo Tour, the Harwich-Raleigh Public School 50th Reunion, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chatham-Kent, and many more.
Waste Connections of Canada
Environmental Management Diploma Scholarship
Waste Connections of Canada offers an annual scholarship at Ridgetown College with an award of $2,500 to a student achieving over a 70% average and who is a resident of Chatham-Kent and who is enrolled in the Environmental Management program.
