About us

Brief history

This organization got its start on Mother’s Day 1997. The current Waste Connections landfill was then owned by a company called Huneault. One of their leachate holding ponds had turned septic and the stench travelling eastward on the prevailing winds was unbelievable. Leachate is the liquid material that drains from land or stockpiled material and contains significantly elevated concentrations of undesirable material derived from the material that it has passed through.

Neither Huneault nor any of our elected or appointed officials or their departments were willing to do anything to resolve the issue in the near term. A group of residents got together, called themselves Friends of The Mer Bleue, and set out to see what could be done. Representatives from the committee met with officials from Gloucester, the waste management company, the NCC and the Ministry of the Environment to find a cure. Handling and treating the leachate onsite had failed and the only solution that could be found was to drain the leachate ponds and truck it to the sewage treatment plant for processing.

Because of its actions regarding the Huneault problem The Friends, as we became known, gained credibility as a community spokesperson. The Friends have subsequently been and continue to be involved with community issues.

Highlights of some of the key issues or activities:

Proposed Landfill expansion

Quarry operations in the community which resulted in a successful representation at the OMB

IC&I recycling operation

Various City of Ottawa Waste Management studies

Presentations to City of Ottawa Council, committees and individual councillors

Representatives from The Friends have served on various waste management study and planning committees and continue to serve on the Waste Connections Public Advisory Committee and the Public Advisory Committee for The Greenbelt Master Plan Review. The Friends also administer the Waste Connections/Friends of Mer Bleue Community Fund. A number of the executive of The Friends also serve on local community associations within the defined geographic area of the fund and their expertise and perspective is invaluable.

FOMB have four primary objectives:

1. Raise public awareness

To raise public awareness around various issues, changes, proposals or other developments that affect the environment or general well being of the Mer Bleue Bog and its surrounding communities.

2. Represent the community

To represent the interests of the community and to serve as a voice for local residents on matters pertaining to the protection and preservation of the Mer Bleue Bog and its surrounding communities.

3. Promote government and community interest

To promote government and community interest and involvement in the overall stewardship of the environment with particular focus on the handling and disposal of household and industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) waste.

4. Work with the local landfill operator

To work with the local landfill operator, waste handler(s) and appropriate government bodies to mitigate the impact of their operations on the Mer Bleue Bog and its surrounding communities.

To meet these objectives, FOMB continue to be an advocate of government and community interest and involvement in the overall stewardship of the environment with particular focus on the handling and disposal of household and industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) waste.

FOMB is involved with the local landfill operator, waste handler(s), The City and other government bodies in order to help mitigate any environmental impact on the Mer Bleue Bog and its surrounding communities.