KAGAWONG—The over 30 members of municipal councils, First Nations and community members who attended the second Island-wide waste management meeting all raised their hands in support of an exploratory committee being formed to look at alternatives to waste reduction, to get away from landfill usage and the hauling of waste off the Island. Several participants at the meeting also put their names forward to being a member of the committee.
“The committee will look at alternatives and solutions for the waste problems we all have on Manitoulin Island,” said Billings Councillor Vince Grogan, who will chair the committee. “We need solutions to handle our own waste and reduce trucking our waste off the Island. With the right initiatives I think we can reduce about 80 percent of the waste going to our landfills and transfer stations, along with reducing trucks hauling garbage off the Island that will make the Island safer for everyone and provide sustainability, for our current landfills and transfer stations.”
“We have to start somewhere,” stated Mr. Grogan at last week’s meeting in Kagawong. “We can form a committee to start this work. I’d like to get busy with this.”
“I like the idea of forming a committee,” said Maja Mielonen. “I see the costs of landfills being prohibitive and from the last meeting we know that one First Nation noted it costs $2 million a year to truck waste off-Island. We can find alternative solutions so that this money stays on the Island, we are not trucking waste off the Island and instead using the waste as a viable resource. This committee would be able to think out of the box and provide alternatives. Together we are smart enough and have the expertise to actually make money with our waste, and to reduce the amount going into landfills.”
“If we get all our ducks in a row and look at alternatives for waste, we could be a template for the rest of Canada,” said Mr. Grogan. “I agree totally. The funding is there, and the time is right.”
One woman in the audience said, “we need to educate people on what can be done with our waste. I think one thing that I would like to see is a central place on the Island being set up for furniture and other items where people can either bring or take items like old shingles that are still usable, two by fours and more.”
“I agree—it’s all our problem and by working together we can produce this and other ideas that would help alleviate our problems with waste management on the Island,” said Mr. Grogan.
Colin McKeever said, “we need to take the landfill option off the table. We can use waste as a resource. I think it is very important to get a sub-committee up and running. We need an in-depth study carried out to understand our waste and the waste we are creating like organic fibres and how we can use it as a resource. With planning we can get the job done.”
“I think the Island working together on waste management solutions is the way to go, rather than looking at this all through each municipality,” said Dale Scott. “We need to work together to manage our waste.” He said we can look at short-term solutions, but the Island can incorporate new initiatives for handling waste like thermal technology and high-tech technology diversion options.
“One municipality can’t do this alone but as an Island we can look at all of this together,” said Mr. Scott.
Richard Stephens, mayor of Central Manitoulin told those at the meeting that his municipality was forced into closing its landfill. “We had our own waste facility (landfill) for many years then received a letter from the Ministry of Environment that our application for an extended lifetime on our site would not be extended. Since June we have been collaborating with our friends in Espanola and shipping all our solid waste to Espanola.” He said that the municipal monthly fee to haul waste had been $34,000 but last month (in hauling to Espanola) “our bill was $58,000 which is a dramatic increase. Fortunately, council was smart enough to have put funds in our budget to look after this.”
“We had people up to visit us on the weekend from Fergus,” said Mr. Stephens. “They were talking about a user mall they have in their community where everyone takes their leftover usable materials and leave or take what they need from this site. That keeps what one person felt was an unwanted material in use and are used instead of being taken to a landfill. We could look at this Island-wide. And education is very important in terms of what can be done with much of our waste, and we can find common solutions.”
Mr. Grogan had told the meeting, “I hope after tonight’s meeting we can agree to find solutions to our mutual problem. Trucking (waste) it off isn’t the best solution.”
“Every truck generates 230 metric tonnes a year of carbon. But my personal biggest fear is in the event the truck that transfers your/our waste off-Island is involved in an accident on Highway 6 which could cost both human lives and natural disasters. That highway is our lifeline and natural preserve, and we have to keep that highway open year-round.”
“I am hopeful we can agree to form a committee with both a sharp focus on alternatives and solutions, and deadlines to present solutions through a request for a delegation to all communities to keep all stakeholders informed and request financial support to move the initiative forward,” said Mr. Grogan.
“In order to allow the group to access government funding we will need to first start with a feasibility study. This study will look at all our individual situations and needs to come up with a solution for the Island,” continued Mr. Grogan. He said the committee could look at diversion options for glass, corrugated and paper, tin and steel, recyclable plastic products, compostable and food oil/grease waste, non-recycling products like mattresses, pillows and fabric.
“The goal of this committee can include researching possible private sector partnership opportunities, state of the art environmental solutions and available grants, but most importantly wide-reaching messaging and education,” continued Mr. Grogan. “This committee should also look for a small footprint at each transfer station to encourage rehabilitation, restoration, and new life for unwanted products. Billings has requested our licence be modified to encourage our neighbours to let their clutter have a second chance and completely divert those gems.”
Billings Mayor Bryan Barker had indicated that at its last meeting Billings council had formally committed to working together to secure long-term solutions to manage the Island’s garbage and have dedicated $5,000 in its municipal budget to enforce this support.
Emily Dance, Billings township clerk told the meeting there is funding available for the feasibility study with grants up to 50 percent of eligible costs to a maximum of $175,000 and if the proposal continues from there pilot project funding for 50-80 percent of eligible costs up to a maximum of $500,000. As well for capital projects financing is available for up to 80 percent of eligible costs to a maximum combined financing of $10 million.
Brad Wright, a Gordon/Barrie Island councillor said before the committee takes a path of looking at all options, each municipality needs to quantify the costs for each to truck waste off the Island, what is being trucked off the Island and the number of trucks hauling garbage.
“At our last meeting there was a lot of support to form a sub-committee would allow us to go forward,” said Mr. Barker. “Maybe tonight we could go down that path.”
Mayor Barker introduced Brendan O’Farrell, senior environmental officer for the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks. The latter was asked how the majority of communities in Ontario are addressing the same problems as the Island with trucking of waste and using landfills. “Those situations are manageable through expansion of their landfill sites. Manitoulin is unique because of its topography and geography and expanding attenuation zones can be very difficult.”
Mr. O’Farrell outlined the process for opening a new landfill or expansion of a site is very costly and lengthy. “It can take up to 10 years to get final approval and opening. The way this group is looking at this to mitigate Island-wide is the way to go rather than each municipality going through the process on their own.”
“Anything is possible, however, there is always that cost and time involved,” said Mr. O’Farrell. “If the Island was looking for a site you would be looking at a 10-year process and it would be costly.”
Mr. O’Farrell was asked if a site for recycling materials would provide a shorter time frame to put in place. “It depends on the situation and what is being proposed,” noting the process would still have to go through the application. Central Manitoulin had a pilot project for composting which included no ECA (environmental certificate of approval), and the ministry was not involved.”
“Education can be part of the committee efforts,” said Mr. Grogan. “If we can educate people on what they can compost, how to reduce and divert from landfills, and how all of this is a benefit to keep a lot of waste out of landfills.”
“A lot of municipalities and First Nation landfills are in dire straits,” said Mr. Barker. “We (Billings) are going through the process to expand our landfill, that if successful would provide another 20 plus years. We are looking at alternative options for waste disposal and diversion.”
“From a personal standpoint the formation of this group and discussion is probably the right way to go down this road,” said Mr. O’Farrell.
Mr. Grogan said in looking at forming a sub-committee he would like a minimum of six members, from municipalities, First Nations and community representatives.
“I agree a sub-committee makes a lot of sense,” said one person. “And to look at different ways to reduce our waste, divert our waste from, and look at what is happening in our landfills, and other alternatives.”
“I applaud Billings for standing up and taking the lead on this and doing such a good job in trying to get this project going,” said Kim Neale.
Mr. Wright suggested a sub-committee could bring forward a list of things they are proposing as alternatives/options to reduce waste and request say $5,000 from each municipality and First Nation this is the thing we are looking to do. I think the committee would need to have the list of alternatives and ideas in place before approaching councils.”
However, Mr. Barker said before that takes place an application for a feasibility study would need to be undertaken, said Mr. Barker.
“The timing is right,” said Mr. Stephens. “We are in the throes of looking at our 2024 budget, if we know this process is going ahead and funds are going to be necessary to participate in this project we can put money aside. Central Manitoulin can look at this in our budget.”
Jack Bould, a Gordon/Barrie Island councillor suggested that the committee shouldn’t just include council members, it should include community members.
“Yes, and we need every community to indicate that they are having the same or other waste management issues and are looking at solutions as we are,” said Mr. Grogan. “If we can speak to each of your communities and get community support to participate on the committee, I would welcome that.”
While the town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) current landfill has a lifespan of 40 years, Mayor Al MacNevin told the committee the town is also looking at all options to reduce, reuse or diverse waste. “It’s the ideas that will be coming forward from the committee I look forward to seeing. Having the Island working together concept is good, not just for waste. I am looking forward to working with the group.”
The meeting felt that a deadline for coming up with solutions to present to the communities is necessary. “I agree, I want all of this done as soon as possible. I don’t want this to take 10 years to come up with solutions,” said Mr. Grogan.
“I like the idea of putting together an exploratory committee and going that route first,” said Mr. Barker.
“We would encourage everyone to go back to your communities and see who would like to be on the committee,” said Mr. Grogan, who everyone at the meeting agreed, should be the unofficial chair of the committee.
Nine people at the meeting indicated their interest in being on the committee, while more are encouraged to take part. Those interested can contact Tina Beckerton, financial/administrative assistant of Billings at 705-282-2611 ext. 221 or via email at tbeckert@billingstwp.ca
