January 26, 1996
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

Next phase of of solid waste management study for St. John's Urban Region to proceed

Hon. Arthur D. Reid, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, disclosed today government's intention to proceed with the next phases of the solid waste management study which is being undertaken in the St. John's Urban Region.

The primary objective of the study is to provide a plan for a solid waste management system for a period of 20 years with a projection for a furthur 20 year period and also to find and protect alternative site(s) for future use.

The system will utilize existing facilities where suitable and employ, where practical, new techniques compatible with good environmental practices. It will be sufficiently flexible to permit staged implementation and introduction of process changes as new techniques are developed.

The study is being undertaken by BAE-Newplan Consultants Limited of Mount Pearl.

A sub-committee comprised of the North-East Avalon Towns Joint Council under chairperson Randy Simms, was responsible for management of the initial stages of the study with technical direction provided by the St. John's Urban Region Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

Mr. Reid said government has completed its review of the recommendations contained in the report of the Towns Joint Council Committee. He said many of the recommendations have been accepted and are being considered by the consultants with respect to the next phase of the waste management study which is continuing under the guidance of the St. John's Urban Regional Technical Advisory Committee. The final report will contain detailed recommendations on which site(s) should remain operational and how the selected regional sites should be operated.

The waste management study is 65 to 70 per cent complete and is expected to be completed by the fall of 1996.

The St. John's Urban Region includes the Northeast Avalon Peninsula, generally, extending from a line drawn between Holyrood and Witless Bay and north to Cape St. Francis. The region includes the two cities of St. John's and Mount Pearl and 13 towns. A small unincorporated area occupied by summer cabins along the Witless Bay Line is also included.

The study is being undertaken at a total cost of $190,000 and is being funded by the provincial government and the municipalities of St. John's, Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South and Paradise-St. Thomas. The province is financing 60 per cent of the cost and the municipalities are contributing the remaining 40 per cent.

Contact: Gary Callahan, (709) 729-3142.