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Municipal Affairs
Environment and Conservation
February 24, 2009

Ministers 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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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
Cara Pike
Director of Marketing, Public Education and Communications
709-757-3696
cpike@mmsb.nl.ca
 


BACKGROUNDER
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 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.
 


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