Ministers announce Avalon Waste Management Community Consultative Committee

Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and Ralph Wiseman, Minister of Environment announced today the members of the Avalon Waste Management Community Consultative Committee which will undertake the process of developing a regional waste management plan for the Avalon Peninsula.

"The mandate of the committee is to review and evaluate available information and to examine all viable waste management options for the Avalon region," said Minister Langdon. "Ultimately, the committee will be expected to make recommendations to government regarding a long-term waste management plan for the Avalon Region, including the location and type of a regional waste management facility."

"Some preliminary work will be done by the committee prior to the release of the provincial waste management strategy which will be developed by the end of the year. However, the recommendations and regional approach developed by the committee must conform to the guidelines established in that strategy," said Minister Wiseman.

The committee represents major stakeholders in the region and includes:

• Judge Lloyd Wicks, Independent Chairperson
• Dave Denine, Mayor, City of Mount Pearl
• Don Coombs, Mayor, Town of Harbour Grace
• Stan Reid, Mayor, Hearts Delight-Islington and Hearts Desire
• Shannie Duff, Councillor, City of St. John�s
• Ronald Smith, Mayor, Town of Conception Bay South
• Bride McLennon, Mayor, Town of Placentia
• Bern Hickey, Town of Avondale
• Tom Osbourne, Mayor, Town of Arnold�s Cove
• Fred Best, Mayor, Town of Clarenville
• Diane Whelan, Mayor of Paradise and Avalon Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities
• Rod Cumby, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Municipal Administrators
• Linda Whalen, President, Centre for Long-Term Environmental Action
• Frank Evely, Chairperson, Conception Bay North Incinerator Association
• Charlie Riggs, Executive Director, Newfoundland Environmental Industry Association
• Representative for the Southern Shore Region will be announced at a later date.

To assist the work of the Community Consultative Committee, a synopsis of previous reports was prepared regarding different aspects of waste management in Conception Bay North and on the Avalon. This report was released to the public on July 24, 2001 and is intended for information and discussion purposes only. The report provides data on population projections, waste generation, waste characteristics, and four potential sites for a regional waste management facility were identified. These are only potential sites and it will be up to the committee to identify all viable options.

Committee members will be provided with a copy of "A Call to Action on Environmental Protection," a report on the waste management public consultations conducted by the Provincial Waste Management Advisory Committee in June of this year. The report was presented to government on October 31, and contains twelve recommendations for developing a provincial waste management strategy.

While waste management is a municipal responsibility, government is committed to working with municipalities in achieving effective and efficient waste management practices.

Media contacts: Lynn Hammond, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983.
                        Diane Keough, Environment, (709) 729-2575.

2001 11 19                           4:30 p.m.