A Woolwich Township family that says 24 barrels were dumped in its sugar bush by strangers got some good news Friday.
Tests showed that none of the chemicals seeped into the ground.
While cleanup costs will still run into the thousands of dollars, the apparent lack of soil contamination means they’ll be lower than they otherwise would have been.
“It looks like the end is actually in sight now,” Michelle Shannon told CTV News.
Last month, Shannon and her family discovered the barrels on their property.
After being told police and various government groups couldn’t do anything to help them – police later launched an investigation – they were connected with Safety-Kleen, which offered to remove the barrels for free.
Tests showed that the barrels contained sludge, grease, oily water and similar substances.
The barrels were then removed, and the soil underneath dug up and shipped out for testing.
Because it appears no hazardous materials leaked into the soil, private company Waste Management – which has picked up items from the property in the past – has offered to remove the affected soil for free.
“I think it’s corporate responsibility to help out your neighbour,” said Waste Management spokesperson Luisa Adsett.
The cost of removing the soil – which Adsett estimates as being enough to fill 10 dump trucks – could ordinarily reach as high as $10,000.
Shannon and her husband remain on the hook for the soil testing and expenses around filling the hole back in.
They’ve also had to take down a number of trees from their property.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” Shannon said.
“I would never dream of ever, in a million years, doing this to someone else.”
Waterloo Regional Police said Friday that they had no updates on their investigation into the arrival of the barrels.
