Municipal Affairs
Environment and Conservation
January 16, 2009

Funding Announced for Waste Site Consolidation in Lewisporte Area

The Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs, today announced plans for further waste site consolidation in the Central region. The Provincial Government has approved funding in the amount of $304,880 for the clean up and partial closure of the Lewisporte waste site. This upgrade will also facilitate the closure of the Campbellton site, which is used by 565 individuals. Once closed, the waste currently going to the Campbellton site will be transported to the Lewisporte site, 17 kilometers away.

"I am very pleased that communities in the Central region have embraced regional co-operation as a means of making modern waste management viable," said Minister Whalen. "This initiative between Lewisporte and Campbellton is just one more example of the willingness of municipalities to come together in the spirit of co-operation for the benefit of residents and the environment."

Mayors of both communities were also pleased with this announcement.

"This is a step in the right direction," said William Hooper, Mayor of Lewisporte. "Not only will this funding be used to close the Campbellton dump, but it will also help finance the clean up and partial closure of the site in Lewisporte."

"Consolidation of dumpsites, and finally getting the Campbellton site closed and cleaned up, brings us closer to alleviating the environmental issues that our community and the Central Regional Service Board have been working with the Provincial Government to address," said Masie Clark, Mayor of Campbellton.

The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation, also applauded this latest development in the provincial solid waste management strategy.

"This interim measure is a step forward in helping us achieve our waste management strategy goals," said Minister Johnson. "We will continue to work with communities in all areas of the province to consolidate waste management services and facilitate the closure of sites."

In December 2008, the Central Waste Management Authority was appointed as a Regional Service Board. Chaired by Allan Scott of Gander, the board is responsible for planning for and implementing the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy in the region.

"Central continues to diligently work towards the establishment of a regional waste disposal site in Norris Arm," said Mr. Scott. "This consolidation brings us one step closer to the ultimate goal of the regional site being operational by 2011."

Wade Verge, MHA for Lewisporte, also expressed his pleasure at the progress being made.

"I am pleased that the area is moving forward with the province�s strategy for dealing with our solid waste," said Mr. Verge. "The central region has been a leader in environmental awareness and will continue to work with the Provincial Government to ensure waste management is carried out in an environmentally-responsible manner."

It is anticipated that work at the Lewisporte site will be completed in spring 2009.

The Central Region is scheduled to begin waste management operations in 2010 and will be offering full waste management services in 2012. The cornerstone of the waste management system in central will be the regional facility located at Norris Arm North that will include modern waste management infrastructure such as a material recovery (recycling) facility, compost facility, household hazardous waste facility, and the regional landfill. Seven local waste management facilities will be strategically located throughout the region to maximize efficiency and convenience and will act as transfer stations to transport waste to the regional facility. The estimated capital cost of the system is in excess of $60 million. In 2008, the Provincial Government committed $6.6 million to fund the initial site clearing and preparation contracts for these facilities. Construction is underway at the regional site in Norris Arm North and it is anticipated that construction will begin at the seven local facilities in the very near future.

"This government is fully committed to implementing modern waste management across the province," added Minister Whalen. "We can no longer continue to destroy our environment and endanger our health with irresponsible waste management practices. Central is an excellent example of how the regional approach to waste management is working and we will continue to partner with regions as we work toward modern waste management province-wide by 2020."

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Media contacts:

Jennifer Collingwood
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 690-2498
JenniferCollingwood@gov.nl.ca
Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca


BACKGROUNDER

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, supported by the use of disposal bans, the development of new infrastructure to facilitate the implementation of broadly 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 over 240 waste disposal sites in operation throughout the province and today there are currently fewer than 200. Open burning has been reduced � and even eliminated in 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.

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 and enforcement of sites.

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 01 16                                                   11:10 a.m.
 


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