Oakrun Farm Bakery Ltd. of Hamilton pleaded guilty to failing to comply with its industrial sewage works environmental compliance approval (ECA), and was fined $50,000 (+25% VFS), total $62,500.
Bakery effluent moves through a series of treatment systems, then to an artificial wetland system, where it is discharged into shallow trench beds. The ECA limits the monthly average concentration of BOD5 (biological oxygen demand) in the treated effluent to 10 mg/L; during one month, the effluent BOD was 19 mg/L.
Oakrun has since improved the performance of its sewage works. This substantial fine underscores the recent rise in fines, even for relatively minor infractions.