The Provincial Solid Waste Management
Strategy
In May 2007, the Provincial Government announced
implementation of the $200 million Provincial Solid Waste Management
Strategy, with a goal for full implementation by 2020. The strategy
calls for full-service regional waste management facilities in three
areas � Avalon, Central and Western � of the island portion of the
province and programs that will be developed for the zones in Labrador
to meet the provincial waste management goals.
The provincial strategy aims to reduce the amount of
garbage going into landfills in the province by 50 per cent. This
strategy is supported by the use of disposal bans, the development of
new infrastructure to facilitate the implementation of broad-based
recycling activities at the regional level and an aggressive public
education campaign to focus attention on reducing the amount of waste
generated in the first instance.
At the time of implementation, there were more than
240 waste disposal sites in operation throughout the province and,
today, there are fewer than 200. Open burning has been reduced � and
even eliminated on the Greater Avalon � and regional waste management
committees and boards have been established in most regions.
The Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy is led
by a partnership of government departments, the MMSB, regional
boards/committees and municipalities, each with a specific role in the
strategy.
The Department of Municipal Affairs is responsible for
the strategy�s implementation and capital funding. The province has
committed $200 million to cover 100 per cent of the capital costs for
the infrastructure needed by municipalities to implement the new
regional waste management systems.
The Department of Environment and Conservation is the
author of the strategy and is responsible for overall policy and setting
environmental standards and regulations governing waste management.
The Department of Government Services is responsible
for inspection of waste management sites, enforcement of environmental
standards and facilitation of site closures.
The Multi-Materials Stewardship Board is a Crown
agency that is responsible on a province-wide basis for recycling
specific waste streams that pose particular environmental or other
challenges and which do not lend themselves to proper management at the
local level. The MMSB is also responsible for providing start-up
planning and organizational development support to the 15 regional waste
management authorities that will enable them to implement modern waste
management systems throughout the province. The MMSB has also been
mandated to develop and implement province-wide public education and
awareness initiatives to promote more environmentally progressive waste
management practices, with a particular focus on waste reduction themes.
Regional boards/committees are responsible for the
planning, design, implementation and operation of comprehensive new
waste management systems throughout the province.
Municipalities are responsible for all operating and
maintenance costs associated with waste management, which is similar to
any municipal service. This includes waste diversion and curbside
recycling costs.
2009 04 03
11:25 a.m.