Ministers release report on waste management on the Avalon

Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister Oliver Langdon and Environment Minister Ralph Wiseman released a report today on solid waste management on the Avalon peninsula.

The report was prepared by Harris and Associates and Bae-Newplan and arises from the tripartite agreement signed last year between the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, the Town of Harbour Grace and the Conception Bay North Incinerator Association. The tripartite agreement was developed in response to problems at the Harbour Grace waste disposal site. 

The report is a synopsis of previous reports that had been done regarding different aspects of waste management in Conception Bay North and on the Avalon. This report is intended for information and discussion purposes only. The report provides data on population projections, waste generation, waste characteristics and identifies four potential sites, which are not necessarily the only potential sites, nor will the findings and conclusions of previous reports necessarily be used for decision-making purposes in the review. 

Minister Langdon stated that the situation at the Harbour Grace waste disposal site requires immediate attention and government is working with the town and the CBN Incinerator Association to address this problem.

"We have to deal with the Harbour Grace issue as quickly as we can," he said. "However, as we evaluated options for Harbour Grace, we felt it would be necessary to broaden our study and carry out comprehensive planning for the entire Avalon peninsula."

Minister Wiseman noted that there are 43 waste disposal sites on the Avalon including nine incinerators, eight of which are teepee style incinerators.

"These teepee incinerators will have to be phased out by 2008 in accordance with a national agreement to reduce dioxins and furans and many of the waste disposal sites will eventually outlive their useful lives," he said. "It is important for the Avalon region to begin examining its options now so that a regional approach and affordable solutions can be implemented." 

Minister Langdon announced as well that a committee will be established to undertake the process of identifying options for waste management, including such factors as possible location, or locations, for waste disposal, appropriate technology, economics and waste reduction, recycling, composting and waste diversion.

The committee will be comprised of people from various municipalities on the Avalon peninsula, groups and organizations and individual citizens. The committee will be asked to consider a regional approach for the Avalon. 

Minister Langdon said that waste management issues must be dealt with at the community level. He called on municipalities, stakeholders and the general public to come together to develop a comprehensive waste management strategy for the Avalon peninsula.

"Consultations on a provincial waste management strategy have concluded," stated Minister Wiseman. "I expect to receive the committee's report in the fall. The waste management strategy for the Avalon must conform with the provincial strategy."

Persons interested in serving on the community consultative committee should express their interest to the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs by August 10, 2001.

Media contact:

Sean Kelly, Communications, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983
Diane Keough, Communications, Environment, (709) 729-2575.

2001 07 24                                                 12:25 p.m.