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Municipal Affairs
Environment and Conservation
July 23, 2009

Province Provides $445,000 to Support Waste Management Pilot Project in
Trinity Conception Bay North

The implementation of a waste transfer pilot project in the Trinity Conception Bay North sub-region of the Greater Avalon will support closure of four existing dump sites in the region, including the incinerator at Old Pelican.

"We are pleased to provide approximately $445,000 to the Trinity Conception Bay North Waste Management Committee to advance their efforts for effective waste transfer to the regional site," said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "This pilot project will support the transportation and delivery of all waste from the communities of New Chelsea to Kingston, and demonstrate the effectiveness of operating a transfer station as a means of transporting waste to the regional waste management site at Robin Hood Bay."

Communities will bring their garbage to the transfer station using existing transportation methods, with a larger vehicle transporting the waste to Robin Hood Bay. This approach is an interim solution for the area to allow the communities to close existing landfills and incinerators and prepare themselves for further implementation of the Provincial Waste Management Strategy.

The total number of municipal waste sites closed province-wide as a result of this strategy is 58, and the total number of incinerators decommissioned is 37.

"I am very pleased to see these communities are working hand in hand  to create a cleaner, greener province for the coming generations," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "This investment is another example of government�s efforts to support regional management authorities and help us achieve our 50 per cent waste reduction goal. Our government is committed to developing long-term waste management solutions that will benefit our environment."

"From a regional perspective this pilot project will help us prepare for the development and implementation of the comprehensive plan for the region as we gain valuable experience with the design and operation of a transfer station prior to investing in the roll out of this infrastructure for other areas in the region," said Ken Kelly, Chair of the Greater Avalon Regional Waste Management Committee. "As we implement this pilot it will reduce the risk for our partners � municipalities, institutions and private industry, as we learn how they can participate, be creative and competitive in this approach to waste management."

"The closures of waste sites and incinerators are positive efforts and support the important work of protecting our environment, and securing waste management services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Whalen. "These are positive efforts to continue the advancement of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy."

The $200 million Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy will introduce three full-service regional waste management facilities on the Avalon, Central and Western areas of the island portion of the province, and programs for the zones in Labrador to meet the provincial waste management goals. The provincial strategy will aim to reduce the amount of waste going into landfills in the province by 50 per cent, supported by the use of disposal bans and development of new waste diversion programs. The Greater Avalon Regional Site is expected to be operational by 2010, the Central site by 2011, and the Western Regional site no later than 2016.

It is expected that full implementation of the strategy will occur by 2020.

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Media contacts:

Heather MacLean
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
Tina Coffey
Public Relations Specialist
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-5783, 728-8650
tinacoffey@gov.nl.ca

Ken Kelly
Chair, Greater Avalon Regional Waste Management Committee
709-579-7960
kenkelly@greateravalon.ca

 

 

2009 07 23                                                      11:00 a.m.
 


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