KAGAWONG—While it appears positive that Billings will be approved for an extension of the area it can use for its landfill, the township is taking action to put into place initiatives that will be in place to reduce the amount of waste going into the site now and in the future and looking at all alternatives for waste management for the future.
To this end, council has given its approval to a waste management strategic plan and has given first reading to a waste management bylaw that would include, for instance, the implementation of a garbage bag tag program that sees a user identification card used, with limits on the number of garbage bags brought to the landfill on a weekly basis and an increase in landfill tipping fees. Council is holding a 30-day public comment period and is encouraging local residents to comment.
“The education side of this will be very important as to what people need to do, the need for more accountability as to what they bring to the landfill and why we are putting these actions in place. I think there will probably be pushback from the community on identification bag tags and being limited to deposit one garbage bag of garbage/waste per visit (residential property owners) to the landfill depot, with a fee for bringing additional garbage bags to the landfill,” said Councillor Dave Hillyard at a council meeting last week. “Pinchin is talking about 20 years life for our landfill if we receive approval, but if we do nothing we’re doomed.”
“The bottom line is we need to educate and communicate to members of the public why we are doing all if this, like the need to divert as much as we can from the landfill. I agree,” stated Councillor Vince Grogan.
“I think we all recognize the landfill is going to be closing in the future,” said Mayor Bryan Barker. “But it is not all doom and gloom,” he said noting that representatives of Pinchin Engineering are confident that the township will receive approval from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on expanding the capacity area of its landfill. “Regardless, we need to put things in place to reduce the amount of waste going into the site now and find alternatives for waste management in the future. I commend council and staff for the action it has taken. The plan is to divert as much waste from our landfill as possible to extend the life of the landfill.”
“I also think we are going to get pushback from residents, but what we are looking at is for the betterment of the township,” said Mayor Barker.
Under the proposed bylaw every residence, and every commercial business is going to have to dispose of garbage/waste and recyclables at the township landfill depot will have to prepare the same for disposal in accordance with the township waste management operational procedures and failure to do so will mean waste or recyclables not being accepted for deposit at the landfill site.
Landfill tipping fees for both household and commercial waste will be applied according to volume under the bylaw and unapproved depositing of garbage, waste or eligible source recycling will result in charges being laid under the township illegal dumping bylaw. The landfill attendant will be authorized to administer a surcharge for excessively loaded trucks or trailers.
Under the rates and fees section of the bylaw, the garbage bag identification tags will be free for the first tag and $10 for a replacement. Under the bylaw the township will allow residential property owners to deposit one garbage bag of garbage/waste per visit to the landfill depot, with additional garbage bags requiring an additional garbage bag identification tag ($3.50), while commercial operations will be allowed to deposit two garbage bags per visit to the landfill depot, with additional bags of garbage/waste requiring a garbage bag identification tag ($3.50).
Under the proposed by-law 2024-07 schedule ‘A’ landfill depot tipping and disposal fees, there are rates set for the replacement of landfill identification cards, depositing tires, appliances, furniture, bagged household garbage, unbagged household garbage/household waste based on pickup truck load, trailer load and pickup truck load with trailer load, bagged commercial garbage, unbagged commercial garbage/commercial waste, and shingles.
At the March 18 council meeting, the waste management strategy plan was presented to council by Waste Management Coordinator Arthur Moran.
In 2014 the township had a comprehensive waste management plan prepared and accepted by council. The plan identified initiatives that the township could incorporate as part of a waste diversion strategy including waste reduction and reuse strategies, waste diversion initiatives, public education and landfill depot enhancement.
It was pointed out with that strategic plan the township and its residents have demonstrated that they are committed to doing their part when it comes to recycling, promoting green programs and working to keep control of greenhouse gases. However, increases in waste generation from an increasing population, changing population demographics and an increase in tourism numbers, means the waste management system is experiencing more pressures than it previously had.
To assist in relieving some of the pressures, the township is implementing a waste management strategy that will provide waste diversion, prolong the life of the township landfill site and develop revenue stream for future landfill costs. The new waste management strategy will be implemented in a series of phases that will allow for the staff and the residents to adjust to implemented changes. Phase one will evaluate the current state of the township waste management system and how it operates, phase two will create guiding principles, develop waste management program changes and development of program goals, phase three will consolidate collected data, evaluate the program changes and develop possible program improvements, phase four will include developing a food and organic materials home recycling program. Phase five will include developing a long-term after-landfill closure strategy and phase six develop strategies for processing waste and recyclables (i.e. compactors, shredders, balers).
At last week’s meeting Pinchin Engineer representatives explained that its most recent topographic drone survey was carried out in 2019, and indicated the landfill is at capacity now, and the request for extension expansion (of 1.25 hectares) was submitted in 2021 and awaits final approval. If final approval is given, it would provide for 20 years use, based on volume use at the time the permit was applied for with a 1,070 metric ton annual fill rate. Council was also told that the township will have to cap the area of the landfill that is fill beyond allowable limits, as well as looking long term at the closure of the site, when it is permanently closed.
Councillor Grogan noted, “we are already over capacity. I’m just wondering how concerned you are with this, and our application for expansion.”
Tim McBride, of Pinchin said, “the application process has been carrying out the past four years with the ministry, and from the indication we have the application has been pretty much approved. The municipality has gone through the process of making the application.”
“In your experience is a four-year delay in the expansion permit application a normal occurrence?” asked Councillor Ian Anderson.
“It’s about normal,” said Mr. McBride. “We have others in the same situation. Landfills are complex, and the ministry has to deal with a large volume of permit applications.”
In considering the Waste Management Strategy Plan, Councillor Grogan said, “I think we should approve it to use as guidance. It’s an excellent document, well done and the plans in it are designed to provide a healthy environment for all our citizens. I have nothing negative to say.”
“I like the idea the strategy outlines getting into options like shredders and composting,” said Councillor Hillyard. “I was impressed in reading the report and the data. Based on the information I don’t think we have that much time, and I don’t want to see our township end up in the position that our neighbours (Central Manitoulin, which wasn’t approved for an extension to the Providence Bay landfill use permit) are and losing our permit application for our site. If we don’t put measures in place we’re doomed.”
“One final comment is that we need good communication and education to members of the public as to what our situation is, and why we are putting in place what we are,” said Councillor Hillyard.
Council approved the first reading of its waste management bylaw and providing a 30-day comment period for input from residents in the township.
Mr. Moran told council “In reviewing what we have in place currently for the waste management bylaw, which was approved by council (213-2014), I felt going forward we need to repeal the previous bylaw. I welcome the 30-day public consultation period as the waste management process affects everyone.”