The following is being distributed on behalf of the Greater Avalon Regional Waste Management Committee:

Greater Avalon Regional Waste Management Committee to meet with municipal leaders on proposed Waste Management System for Avalon

Dr. Melvin Regular, Chair of the Greater Avalon Regional Waste Management Committee, announced today that the committee will be holding a meeting at the Arnold�s Cove Recreation Center on June 11 at 2:00 p.m. Municipal leaders from neighboring communities have been invited to meet with the committee to discuss the proposed new waste management system for the region from Clarenville to St. John�s.

"Newfoundland and Labrador lags well behind other provinces in waste management," said Dr. Regular. "The committee is anxious to meet with municipal leaders in this part of the province to discuss the merits of this project and how to ensure the new system meets their needs."

The committee consists of 15 members from municipalities, industry and the environmental sector throughout the region. The committee is chaired by Melvin Regular and supported by a Regional Coordinator, Sarah Thuring. Committee members are: Mayor Tom Osbourne - Town of Arnold�s Cove; Mayor Don Coombs � Town of Harbour Grace; Mayor Fred Best - Town of Clarenville; Mayor Stan Reid � Town of Heart�s Delight-Islington and Heart�s Desire; Councilor Shannie Duff � City of St. John�s; Councilor Lucy Stoyles - City of Mount Pearl; Mayor Bride McLennon - Town of Placentia; Mayor Ron Smith - Town of Conception Bay South; Mayor Leo Moriarty - Town of Ferryland; Councilor Bern Hickey - Town of Avondale; Mr. Sam Stack - Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities; Mr. Rodney Cumby - Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Municipal Administrators; Mr. Baxter Rose - Province of Newfoundland and Labrador; Mr. Charlie Riggs - Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Industry Association; Ms. Linda Whalen � Centre for Long-Term Environmental Action.

The new system will consist of a materials recovery facility, a commercial indoor composting operation and an engineered landfill, together with a network of transfer stations at strategic locations throughout the Avalon Peninsula. The proposed regional waste management site is Dog Hill, located approximately three kilometres west of the Foxtrap Access Road on the south side of the Trans Canada Highway.

The Greater Avalon Region has a population of 260,000 people, or slightly more than half the total population of the province. The mission of the committee is to provide leadership in the implementation of environmentally responsible waste management practices and the development of a comprehensive system for handling solid waste from households, institutions, businesses and industry. The new system will promote waste reduction and recycling and will provide new economic and business opportunities in the region. It will also help keep our environment beautiful and protect our health and the health of our children for generations to come.

For more information or to arrange an interview please call Sarah Thuring, Regional Coordinator, (709) 729-1744.

2004 06 10                                       12:00 p.m.