MOOREFIELD– Expansion to the Rothsay rendering plant in Moorefield is facing challenges as the company is appealing some conditions placed by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
The plant processes poultry, poultry feathers and pork by-products into finished protein and fats to supply feed mills and pet food manufacturers in Canada and internationally. Rothsay is a division of Darling International Canada Inc.
A letter from plant manager Duff Moore, sent to the northern municipalities in Wellington County, states they are upgrading their facility to expand poultry processing capacity to match growth in poultry and feed industries.
This required an amended environmental compliance approval (ECA) from the ministry.
A condition on the ECA document sets out odour performance limits and an odour management plan.
In Moore’s letter, he said some of the new requirements set out are not always sustainable.
“The amended ECA places certain conditions on Rothsay’s operations notably new odour emission limits that may not be (consistently) achievable and thus may result in stoppages,” Moore wrote.
“Shut downs — permanent or temporary, or other operational limitations or interruptions, will impact agribusiness supply chains and the direct and indirect employment base for many.”
The plant has been fined previously for odour violations.
In 2004, when Rothsay was a division of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., the plant was fined a total of $75,000 for exceeding odour limits, not submitting a consultant’s report and installing a belt-press without approval.
Moore’s letter wasn’t looking for agreement or support on the technical merits of their appeal but recognition of them as an important employer in the region.
The letter highlights the company as having direct – and indirect – impact on employment and the economy as well as environmental benefits through sustainable use of waste materials.
This request was met with some hesitancy from Wellington North and Minto councils. Both councils ended up passing a resolution in support of the plant’s positive impacts but stressed it was not a comment on the appeal.
This letter has not been discussed yet at Mapleton council, the host municipality of the site.
