Funding announced for closure of waste disposal sites

Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and Conservation, and John Scott, Chair and CEO of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), today announced $172,000 in funding under the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund for regional waste management initiatives in the province.

The $172,000 is for the closure of five municipal waste disposal sites around the province. Waste disposal sites that will close permanently include the sites at Rattling Brook, Port Anson-Miles Cove, Englee, Port au Port East and Burnt Point.

Minister Osborne said these projects announced under MMSB�s Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund support the provincial waste management strategy�s goals of reducing the number of waste disposal sites in the province by 80 per cent and adopting a more regional approach to solid waste management in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Projects such as these will help guide the province toward a more modern and environmentally responsible waste management system," said Minister Osborne. "The Trust Fund supports progressive waste management practices in Newfoundland and Labrador and, in doing so, plays an important role in the environmental sustainability of our province," said the minister. "A regional approach to managing solid waste is the most cost-effective approach to meeting our challenges in waste management over the long term, especially for rural areas."

Mr. Scott said that MMSB works closely with municipalities, regional waste management committees and other stakeholders to develop and advance waste management plans that meet the needs of all regions of the province. "Investments made under the Trust Fund to date have benefitted more than 300 community-based organizations. MMSB looks forward to making additional strategic investments through the fund to guide our province to a greener future."

Jim Hodder, MHA for Port au Port, said: "Consolidating our existing waste disposal sites is critical to achieving regional waste management, and I am delighted to see the Town of Port au Port East and the Town of Lourdes working together on this front. The decision to close the Port au Port East site was based on the Town of Lourdes agreeing to accept all waste generated by Port au Port East residents at its waste disposal facility."

The MHA for Trinity-Bay de Verde, Charlene Johnson, said she is pleased with the waste management initiatives being undertaken by communities in her district. "The Local Service District of Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay and the Town of Old Perlican have determined that it is in the best interest of a number of communities in the area to consolidate their waste management efforts at the Old Perlican waste disposal site. MMSB�s investment to properly close the local dump at Burnt Point was key to bringing all of this about in an environmentally acceptable manner."

MMSB is a provincial Crown agency that reports to the Minister of Environment and Conservation. MMSB supports modern waste management practices in the province, with a particular focus on waste diversion, recycling and public education, in order to ensure a clean and healthy environment throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Media contact:
David Penney, MMSB, (709)753-0993
Sonia Glover, Environment and Conservation, (709)729-2575, 685-6612

2005 06 09                                  11:15 a.m.