Municipal Affairs
April 22, 2008

Vacancies Filled at Western Regional Waste Management Committee

The Honourable Dave Denine, Minister of Municipal Affairs, has announced the appointments of three individuals to fill vacancies on the Western Regional Waste Management Committee. Individuals joining the Western Regional Waste Management Committee include Colleen Fiander, Eileen Hann, and Larry Hall.

"We are pleased to once again have a full committee in place to move issues of waste management on the west coast forward, and I am confident that Ms. Fiander, Ms. Hann and Mr. Hall will be positive additions to support the advancement of the Provincial Waste Management Strategy," said Minister Denine. "Since being established in November, the western committee has been working on the organization of terms of reference for a study to consider the overall waste management system options which would include site selection. In addition, the committee has been meeting with municipal stakeholder groups in the region, and advanced local area studies to consider interim consolidation of dumpsites."

The Western Regional Waste Management Committee represents a cross-section of the geographical and sectoral interests in the regional waste management system. The full slate of committee members now includes new appointees Colleen Fiander, Town of Gilliams; Eileen Hann, Town of Port au Port; and Larry Hall, Town of Deer Lake, who join Baine Hodder, Town of Burnt Islands; Eric Legge, Bay St. George�s South; Cynthia Downey, Town of Stephenville Crossing; Tony Blanchard, Humber Economic Development Board; Robert Mercer, Town of Pasadena; Keith Shears, Town of Rocky Harbour; and Charles Pender, City of Corner Brook, who complete the make-up of the 10-person committee.

The appointments shall remain in effect for a two-year, renewable term, or until changes are required as a result of its transformation into an elected regional authority.

"We are pleased to welcome the new members to the western committee and look forward to their input as we continue our work to develop awareness and build support for a regional waste management system which will modernize waste management, enhance diversion and support the clean-up of our environment in the western region," said Gilbert Smart, Chairperson of the Western Regional Committee. "We are making solid progress and continue to work diligently to move issues concerning waste management on the west coast forward in a responsible manner."

In May 2007, the Provincial Government announced implementation of the $200 million Provincial Waste Management Strategy, with a goal for full implementation by 2020. The strategy calls for three full-service regional waste management facilities on the Avalon, Central and in Western areas of the island portion of the province, and programs which will be developed for the zones in Labrador to meet the provincial waste management goals. The geographic area to be considered by the Western Regional Waste Management Committee includes the western region of the province from Harbour La Cou on the southwest coast to Bellburns on the Northern Peninsula and east past Highway 420, which would include Hampden and Jackson�s Arm and area.

Regional waste management authorities will be established in the various waste management zones on the island and in Labrador. 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. 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.

-30-

Media contact:

Heather MacLean
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 690-2498
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca 

2008 04 22                                                   11:50 a.m.


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement