Battery facility accused of dumping toxic waste in St. Lawrence Seaway facing dozens of charges

A battery recycling facility on the South Shore is facing more than 50 charges for allegedly dumping toxic water into the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The City of Saint-Catherine, where the facility is located, is also facing more than 30 charges of its own for allegedly allowing it to happen.

Terrapure Environment operates one of the largest battery recycling facilities in the country in the off-island suburb.

Late last year, Environment and Climate Change Canada accused the company of illegally discharging toxic chemicals into the water, where fish live, laying 52 federal charges for violations of the Fisheries Act between 2020 and 2023.

According to court documents obtained by CTV News, inspectors allege wastewater produced during the recycling process is treated at the plant and then dumped into a city storm sewer, which flows directly into the South Shore canal of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Environment Canada alleges that as early as 2016, the City of Sainte-Catherine discovered the wastewater was contaminated with lead and sulphate in excess of the maximum permitted levels. Instead of enforcing federal regulations the city allegedly permitted it to continue.

The city, which is also facing 38 charges, did not return a request for comment.

In a statement, Terrapure’s facility manager wrote:

“Operating in compliance with the law is, and always has been, Terrapure’s priority. Terrapure holds a valid operating permit issued by Quebec’s environmental regulatory agency, which was renewed in 2025.

The statement went on to say the company also complies with applicable discharge criteria.

Rebecca Petrin, the executive director of Eau Secours, a clean water advocacy group, says the findings are alarming.

“There’s many years we have tried to explain to the Quebec government and federal government to improve their regulation and the control around toxic waste,” she said in an interview. “So we’re not surprised, but we are very discouraged.”

She says when lead gets into the water, fish ingest it. There are several popular fishing spots along the shoreline and when people eat the fish, they’re ingesting the lead as well.

Sulphates, she says, damage the vegetation in the water, destroying the ecosystem. There’s also concern over clean drinking water.

“Just downstream, there’s Longueuil drinking water. So we are very worried about all the impacts,” Petrin added.

A spokesperson for the City of Sainte-Catherine confirmed to CTV News the lawsuit had been filed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) regarding a dispute with the company Terrapure.

“In accordance with the rules governing the legal process, the City cannot comment on the merits of the case so as not to interfere with the ongoing proceedings,” spokesperson Marina Badani said.

Both Terrapure and the City of Sainte-Catherine are facing a minimum penalty of $100,000 per offence, if found guilty. They will both be back in court on Feb. 19.