Quebec landfill 'breaches environmental legislation'

A landfill in Quebec has breached environmental legislation by damaging local air quality for the past five years, it has been reported.

Citing figures from Quebec authorities, the Ottawa Citizen said that the concentration of toxic hydrogen sulphide gas at the former Cantley landfill exceeded World Health Organization standards more than 12,000 times since December 2008.

Local resident Serge Galipeau said that he and his wife, Christine Landry, are forced to stay at friends' homes or sleep in hotels when there is a strong odour of gas in the area.

"Something has to be done now about the gas before winter, because the gas levels are always higher then," he said.

He added that the province has neglected to honour previous assurances that it will take action regarding the fumes.

Meanwhile, another landfill is being planned in the Scottish Borders which could have a lesser impact on the environment.

The Landfill Gas Utilisation project is designed to employ landfill gas to generate electricity.

Written by Lauren Steadman