By Davene Jeffrey / Staff Reporter

A Harrietsfield recycler is trying to contain contaminants that have made their way into the groundwater.

Last month, RDM Recycling Ltd. was denied an application to build a disposal site for construction and demolition debris.

The Environment Department turned down the application after testing found that boron and sulphates had leached from the site and are turning up in area wells, department spokesman John Perkins said.

"It's not at a level that would cause us any immediate concern for public health, but it shouldn't be there," Mr. Perkins said.

The levels are within Canadian drinking water standards.

Mr. Perkins said the problem stems from a pile of drywall and related material that is exposed to the elements. Rain runs through the debris and then gets into the groundwater.

RDM Recycling has been ordered to fix the problem and is working with the Environment Department, said company spokesman and consultant Greg Zwicker.

The recycler wants to build a containment system to keep water out of the material to prevent further run-off and to collect whatever leachate may already be in the area, he said.

Once a containment system is approved and built and has been shown to work, RDM Recycling will reapply for permission to build a disposal operation, Mr. Zwicker said.

In the meantime, the recycler has filed an appeal in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. The appeal documents state that the environment minister made several errors in law in denying the company's application.

But that appeal will likely never see the inside of a courtroom, Mr. Zwicker said. He explained that the process is procedural and is part of keeping RDM's application active.