Disposal of Industrial Wastes at
Maitland, Ontario, Works
of Du Pont of Canada
R. F. Walker, Technical Manager
Textile Fibres Department
Du Pont Company of Canada (1956) Limited
The selection of a Du Pont of Canada works location close to Maitland, Ontario, was made in the summer of 1951, and the initial plant
for the manufacture of the two organic chemicals used in the production
of nylon was started up in the summer of 1953. Increasing sales demands
for nylon since that time have necessitated successive plant expansions
and more are predicted. In 1955 manufacture of "Freon" fluorinated
hydrocarbons was undertaken at Maitland, and in 1957 the first Canadian "Orion" acrylic fibre was produced. In 1958 new "Orion" acrylic
polymer and hydrogen peroxide plants will be completed and started up.
Legislation for the control of atmospheric and water pollution in
Ontario is still in the formative stages. Ontario has no well-defined
quantitative code specifying the extent of contamination which will be
tolerated. The ultimate standard is common law which stipulates that
there may not be damage to the property or limitation of the rights and
practices of others. In the past rather arbitrary interpretation of this
principle has been made and in at least two cases led to injunctions
which could have resulted in cessation of manufacturing operations.
Steps are being taken to improve the legislation, and in March 1958
a bill for an "Air Pollution Control Act" was passed by the Ontario
Legislature. The purposes of the bill are to empower the municipalities
to pass and enforce air pollution control by-laws and to authorize the
Minister of Health to undertake research, make grants, advise, investigate and recommend in the field of air pollution.
Prior to 1957 the Minister of Health was responsible for the supervision of surface waters in the Province. In that year responsibility was
transferred to a newly constituted Ontario Water Resources Commission. Among its powers, the commission may prescribe the standards for
water supplies and industrial waste effluents and may apply to the
Supreme Court of the Province for an order for the removal or abatement of a condition causing injury. In addition to this commission, super-
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