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NLIS 1 Minister announces commitment
toward waste management Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, met with representatives of the Northern Peninsula Waste Management Committee last evening to discuss their proposal for modernization of waste management practices in the region. The Northern Peninsula Waste Management Committee has developed a plan, which when fully implemented, seeks to consolidate all waste management in the area north of Castor�s River into three sub-regional land fills. This will reduce the number of waste management sites in the area from 13 down to three, including the closure of seven incinerators. Through this consolidation the committee also hope to achieve 50 per cent waste diversion. The sub-regions are identified as:
"I congratulate the committee for their efforts to date, in particular Danny Patey, regional coordinator, and committee chairperson Doug Mills, for bringing about such a progressive waste management plan. This is an excellent example of the benefits that can be achieved when communities work together in partnership," said Minister Langdon. "The committee�s plan is a significant step toward the implementation of the Provincial Waste Management Strategy." Bob Mercer, Minister of Environment, is also pleased with the initiative of the committee. "The implementation of this proposal will certainly lead to environmental improvements, and provide business opportunities in recycling and waste diversion which will also create long term employment in the collection of waste and site management." The committee has advanced its plan with the communities from Goose Cove to Cook�s Harbour Area (sub-region one) to the point where a proposal was submitted to consolidate four waste management sites into one efficiently run landfill site in St. Anthony. This specific proposal would result in the closure of two incinerators. The proposal calls for a uniform collection fee and seeks cost-sharing on the capital cost associated with site fencing, road grading and the purchase of a new compactor truck to service the entire sub-region. In demonstrating the province�s continued commitment to advancing waste management practices, Minister Langdon announced the provincial contribution of 80 per cent, or $137,600, of the estimated $172,000 capital cost. Site identification and development work is already well underway in sub-region two. A new site has been identified and it is anticipated that within a matter of weeks the environmental approval and land title documentation will be complete. During the meeting Minister Langdon also discussed with the committee options for sub-region three. Media contact: Lynn Salter, Communications, (709) 729-1983 2003 08 07 10:20 a.m. |
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