The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs:

Minister Congratulates St. John’s on Winning Waste Management Award

Mr. Speaker, since the implementation of the Provincial Solid Waste Management strategy in 2007 there have been a number of success stories. Most recently, I was pleased to participate in the official opening of the Central Newfoundland Waste Management Facility and in the western region, the waste management plan is well in progress including the closure of several dump sites.

In August, the City of St. John’s Curb It recycling program won the 2012 Gold Communication Excellence Award given by the Solid Waste Association of North America. This association’s excellence award program recognizes outstanding solid waste programs and facilities that advance the practice of environmentally- and economically-sound solid waste management. They look for a commitment to using effective technologies and processes in system design and operations, advancing worker and community health and safety, and implementing successful public education and outreach programs.

Mr. Speaker, this award was well deserved. Since the implementation of the program, the city has achieved a participation rate of more than 70 per cent in its first year alone far exceeding their target of 40 per cent. The program has diverted more than eight million pounds of recyclables from the landfill in its first year.

The Curb It program certainly meets the goals of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy. In addition to reducing the amount of materials in provincial landfill sites by 50 per cent, the strategy encourages residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to participate in waste diversion programs such as recycling and composting. The strategy also aims to reduce the total number of waste disposal sites by 80 per cent, eliminate open burning of waste at disposal sites and phase-out incinerators and unlined landfills.

Mr. Speaker, full implementation of the strategy is on target for 2020. A total of $145.3 million has been invested in the strategy in the province, $82.8 million by the Provincial Government and $62.5 million from Gas Tax funding.

Mr. Speaker, I ask members to join me in congratulating the City of St. John’s on this prestigious award.

2012 11 28                         2:15 p.m.