Environment and Conservation
June 21, 2013
Dillon Consulting Selected to Study Organic Waste
The Provincial Government has awarded a contract valued at approximately $160,000 to Dillon Consulting of St. John’s, to complete a study of viable options to address organic waste disposal in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“With the awarding of this contract, we are now one step closer to finding a sustainable method for the disposal of organic waste in the province,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “This is an important move forward for the province. We have had considerable success in the implementation of the Provincial Waste Management Strategy through the reduction in waste disposal sites, and the diversion of recyclable materials. This study is the next important milestone towards a modern waste management system for Newfoundland and Labrador.”
It is expected that the existing Materials Recovery Facility at Robin Hood Bay and the recently announced Materials Recovery Facility at Norris Arm will service all regions of the island portion of the province for the recycling of various household recyclable materials.
In tandem with these recycling services, the organic waste study will identify how organic waste materials can be diverted to keep them out of the province’s landfills.
“This province has seen exceptional economic growth, particularly in our industrial and commercial sector, and with this growth we need to be prepared to deal with all types of waste in an efficient and environmentally-responsible manner,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “We are looking forward to the results of the study, and the implementation of new programs for organic waste disposal in the province.”
The Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy aims to reduce the amount of materials in provincial landfill sites by 50 per cent and to encourage residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to participate in waste diversion programs such as recycling and composting. 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.
The report is expected to be completed by December 2013. Additional information on the Provincial Waste Management Strategy is available at: www.gov.nl.ca/ma/waste_management/index.html.
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Media contacts:
| Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca |
Deborah Thomas Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575 deborahThomas@gov.nl.ca |
2013 06 21 11:15 a.m.