We have heard concerns from cabin owners about regional service boards’ garbage collection fees in unincorporated areas. Regional service boards are independent entities that are responsible for providing waste management services and establishing service delivery policies to properties within the region, including seasonal properties.
Through the Regional Service Boards Act, 2012, the boards have the authority to set fees to offset the expenses of delivering waste management services. The administration of the fees is specific to each board. For example, the Burin Peninsula Regional Service Board charges 50 per cent lower fees for seasonal cabin owners; and the Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board charges 32 per cent lower waste collection fees for seasonal cabin owners.
We have ensured that residents, municipalities and businesses have a method available to them to address concerns they may have with regional service boards. As of April 2017, our government amended legislation to provide the Office of the Citizens’ Representative the authority to assist the boards in addressing complaints or grievances from stakeholders. Since that time, the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment has continued to provide clarification to individuals regarding the legislative authority of regional service boards.
Our government supports proper waste management practices, and we are continuing our work to protect our environment and the health and safety of residents. The Provincial Waste Management Strategy was released in 2002 and broad implementation commenced in 2008. On November 1, 2017, we issued two Requests for Proposals for evaluating the current plan to ensure that the strategy is being implemented in a modern, efficient and cost-effective manner.
As the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, I have requested a meeting with Ed Grant, the Chair of the Eastern Regional Service Board to discuss the concerns of the public in this matter.
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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca