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A Saskatchewan village and contractor have both been hit with heavy fines for illegally disposing waste after demolishing six homes.
Kenaston-based Davnn Contracting pleaded guilty in January to illegal dumping and operating an illegal landfill. The Village of Young — which is about 100 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon — pleaded guilty to the same charges last month.
The contractor and village were each fined $21,000, and the Ministry of Environment said the money will go into the provincial Impacted Sites Fund.
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The charges stemmed from an investigation that began in August of 2022 when the ministry got a report about demolition waste being illegally disposed.
“The Village of Young had hired Davnn Contracting to demolish six old houses and haul them to a gravel pit approximately 1.6 kilometres out of town,” the ministry explained in a statement. “There, the waste was dumped into a hole and covered with debris and dirt.”
Despite two notices from the provincial government asking for the site to be voluntarily cleaned, the waste was left at the site, leading to the charges.
“Demolishing old buildings creates many different types of waste, some of which can be very harmful to the environment and human health,” the ministry noted.
“It is vital to dispose of such waste properly to avoid serious impacts for the air, soil and water – not to mention significant fines and cleanup costs.”
Anyone who suspects environmental violations can report them through Saskatchewan’s Turn in Poachers and Polluters line at 1-800-667-7561, and tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards.
