Re: Hope landfill’s days are numbered (Feb. 13)
The recent decision that council made regarding the accelerated closure of the landfill is one to be celebrated. The landfill has been operating out of compliance for many years. The plan to bring the landfill into compliance with the Ministry of the Environment is a well researched, publicly consulted, financially viable option for the long-term betterment of the community.
It is important to note that there will be no change in the level of service to commercial and residential collection. Self-haul material will still be able to be dropped off at the landfill site but will be disposed of into bins at a transfer station that will be built and operated by First Class Waste Inc. at their expense. The expedited closure will see JJM Construction fill the remaining airspace with the non-recyclable material from tetra pack drink packages currently being held at the Norampac paper mill in Burnaby. This material and the closure plan have been approved by the Ministry of the Environment. Once filled, the landfill will be capped off and permanently closed with related costs to be covered by JJM Construction.
The landfill has cost taxpayers approximately $400,000 per year to operate with an additional $175,000 per year set aside annually into a reserve for future closure costs. Both of these expenses will be eliminated and will allow the district to prioritize other needed infrastructure projects. This quick action by Earl Rowe, Sperling Hansen (Landfill engineers), JJM Construction, First Class Waste and MOE has aided council in making a sound financial business decision for the benefit of all the community.
Councillors Peter Robb and
Scott Medlock