Municipal Affairs
Environment and Conservation
February 24, 2009Ministers
Congratulate Central Regional Service Board on Official Launch
An event today in Norris Arm South celebrated the
official launch of the Central Regional Service Board and their regional
waste management system.
"I am pleased to be here today to help officially
launch the Central Regional Service Board and its region�s waste
management system," said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of
Municipal Affairs. "The Department of Municipal Affairs has worked very
closely with the board to get to this stage. We have already invested
significant funds in the capital infrastructure required to implement
the regional system and our staff has spent considerable time and effort
working with board members to ensure progress continues. I am very
satisfied with how our Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy is
advancing in central. This is an excellent example of how through
co-operation and commitment, we will reach our ultimate goal of modern
waste management by 2020."
The Provincial Government announced implementation of
the $200 million Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy in May 2007,
with a goal for full implementation by 2020.
"The board has shown great leadership in moving the
waste management strategy forward," said the Honourable Charlene
Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "The central region
has been a leader in environmental awareness and we will continue to
work together to ensure waste management is carried out in an
environmentally responsible manner."
In December 2008, Minister Whalen announced that the
Central Newfoundland Waste Management Committee had been appointed a
regional service board under the Regional Services Board Act.
Under the formal structure of the act, the board has the legal authority
to manage regional solid waste disposal systems in the region (from
Buchans in the west to Twillingate/Fogo in the north and to Terra Nova
in the east) through the creation of solid waste management facilities
and systems.
Chaired by Allan Scott of Gander, the board members
are: Clayton Boone, Buchans; Donald Stuckless, Point Leamington; Larry
Peddle, Cottlesville; John Griffin, Fogo Island; Ford Collins,
Frederickton; Glenn Arnold, Sandringhamn; Jim Courtney, Grand
Falls-Windsor; Derrick Luff, Brown�s Arm; Renee Easton, Indian Bay;
Harold Edison, Botwood; and Fred Budgell, Norris Arm.
"Today marked the official launch of the new board and
the region�s waste management system," said Chairperson Allan Scott. "We
look forward to working with the Provincial Government as we work
towards our ultimate goal of full waste management services in 2012."
MHAs for the area also commended the board for their
efforts in moving the strategy forward.
"I am proud to represent a district that has embraced
modern waste management and is taking its environmental responsibility
seriously," said the Honourable Kevin O�Brien, MHA for Gander.
"I too am pleased to see the waste management strategy
well underway in the Central region," added Wade Verge, MHA for
Lewisporte. "We are well positioned for meeting our goal of offering
full waste management services by 2012."
In November, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB)
announced a commitment of $500,000 over a three-year period to enable
the service board to advance its regional waste management strategy to
the implementation stage. This new modern system will see the
introduction of curbside recycling programs and other important waste
diversion initiatives throughout the region.
"MMSB will continue to partner with regional waste
management committees to meet the goals of the Provincial Solid Waste
Management Strategy," said Mike Samson, interim Chair and CEO. "In
particular, we will work with regions to ensure that the necessary
infrastructure to support convenient curbside recycling activities
throughout the province is put in place to keep our province green."
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 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 has begun at many of the local facilities.
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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 over 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 02 24
4:15 p.m.