Municipal Affairs
April 8, 2011

Two Regions Receive Funding for Waste Collection Vehicles

To continue with the implementation of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy, the Provincial Government has allocated $800,000 to two regions of Newfoundland and Labrador for the purchase of new waste collection vehicles. The Bay St. George Waste Management Committee will receive $500,000 for the purchase of two vehicles and the Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board will receive $300,000 for the purchase of one vehicle.

“The funding allocations to both of these regions will greatly enhance their ability to collect, compact and transport waste,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “We are continuing to implement the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy and are being responsive to the needs of our waste management regions. I look forward to the continued roll out of the strategy and working with communities in Newfoundland and Labrador to make our waste management and reduction goals a reality.”

The purchase of three new trucks will allow the communities in the two regions to provide enhanced waste management services.

The purchase of two trucks will allow the Bay St. George Waste Management Committee to provide a shared waste collection service for communities from Highlands to Stephenville Crossing, the Port au Port Peninsula and surrounding area. This investment will also facilitate the closure of local dumps in the area, including the decommissioning of the incinerators at Lourdes and St. George’s in favour of a consolidated landfill at St. George’s.

“I am pleased to see that the Bay St. George area will receive these new vehicles,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education and MHA for St. Georges-Stephenville East. “These vehicles will enhance the ability of communities to participate in the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy.”

“The collection and management of our waste products is an important issue for all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Tony Cornect, MHA for Port au Port. “Our region is one of striking beauty and so we must be environmental stewards and undertake appropriate action to preserve this resource.”

On the Northern Peninsula, the waste compaction vehicle will allow the Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board to provide consolidated waste collection services in its fourth and final sub-region which services communities from River of Ponds to Port au Choix. Upon delivery of the vehicle, the board will be providing waste management services to all communities north of River of Ponds.

“The continued support of the Department of Municipal Affairs is critically important for implementing the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy on the Great Northern Peninsula,” said Wallace Young, MHA for St. Barbe. “A new waste collection truck is another demonstration of this commitment and illustrates the strong working relationship of the department and Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board.”

It is anticipated that both the Bay St. George Waste Management Committee and the Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board will soon issue tenders for the purchase of the new vehicles. Once the tender process is complete, it is likely the new vehicles will be operational this fall.

In 2007, the Provincial Government announced the implementation plan for the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy. The goals of this strategy are to reduce the amount of materials in provincial landfill sites, reduce the total number of landfill sites and encourage residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to participate in waste diversion programs such as recycling and composting. The date for full implementation of the strategy is 2020.

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2011 04 08                                                                                10:20 a.m.