NLIS 1
May 8, 2003
(Environment)
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

 

NOTE TO EDITORS: Regional Waste Management Committees meeting in Corner Brook today

Representatives from more than 10 regional waste management committees from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador are meeting in Corner Brook today to discuss their approach to implementing the Provincial Waste Management Strategy for their regions. Joining the committees for the one-day forum will be representatives from several provincial government departments and the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB).

This forum is the first of several planned over the year by government. The goal of the forums is to ensure that regional waste management committees have up-to-date information on waste management initiatives within the province and the Atlantic region. Funding for the forums is being provided by the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund.

"Government announced the province�s waste management strategy in April of 2002 and over the past year has supported efforts throughout the province to investigate and evaluate regional waste management systems and these efforts will continue," said Environment Minister Bob Mercer. "It is now timely to get all the regions together to exchange information and to hear about government�s progress and plans regarding implementation of the strategy."

The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs will continue to work with municipalities as they deliver waste management services to their residents and businesses.

"My department has a major role to play in implementing the Waste Management Strategy through the new infrastructure and administrative bodies, such as the regional waste management authorities," said Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister Oliver Langdon. "A senior level, interdepartmental steering committee has been established to oversee the work of the waste management authorities and participate in the forums."

Since the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund was established in 1999, government has approved 278 applications and approximately $8 million in contributions. A portion of this funding has been awarded to regional committees to assist in the planning, development, and upgrading of waste management systems, as well as the closure of waste disposal sites.

"Over the past four years, the Trust Fund has awarded $1,295,000 to municipalities and regional waste management committees to investigate waste management systems for their region, and $216,000 for communities for the closure of disposal sites as a step towards regional sites," stated Gordon Seabright, chair of MMSB.

"One of the key aspects of the Waste Management Strategy is ensuring that the public is informed and educated and the regional committees are one of the best means of getting information to the residents of every community in the province," said Minister Mercer. "To accomplish this goal, MMSB is developing a province-wide education and awareness program for the waste management strategy."

Media contact:
          Carmel Turpin, Department of Environment, (709) 729-2575
          Karen O�Neill, MMSB, (709) 753-0949
          Lynn Hammond, Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The meeting of the regional waste management committees is taking place at the Holiday Inn, West Street, Corner Brook, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To arrange for interviews with government representatives, please contact Karen O�Neill at (709) 690-0859.

2003 05 08                                         9:45 a.m.


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