KAGAWONG—Each of three neighbouring Manitoulin municipalities who had been asked to provide temporary respite and take garbage from the municipality of Central Manitoulin has declined assisting. As was reported in January, faced with a looming deadline to close their only remaining landfill site and rising costs to ship waste off-island, Central Manitoulin council decided at its January 12 meeting to reach out to neighbouring municipalities while they work on an alternative solution.
A motion moved by council, “that the municipality send letters to NEMI, Billings and Tehkummah to gauge the willingness of their councils to receive waste from Central Manitoulin on a temporary basis for a negotiated fee.”
Billings township council discussed the request at a meeting last week. “How long would they need the services?” questioned Councillor Vince Grogan.
“They have indicated it will be temporary but they (Central Manitoulin) have provided no set time,” said Mayor Bryan Barker.
“I don’t think Kagawong has the capacity to open our landfill (to another municipality),” said Councillor Grogan.
It was pointed out by Mayor Barker that the last estimate the township received for the life of its current dump landfill is 13 years.
“This opens another discussion,” said Councillor Dave Hillyard. “Where do we feel we are at in terms of the lifespan of our landfill? That 13 years will come fast. Just look at Central Manitoulin: they thought they had 25 years left on their landfill.”
Council had been informed by its office staff that the township, as per the Kagawong Landfill certificate of approval from the Ministry of the Environment, that they could not accept waste from the municipality of Central Manitoulin.
“I don’t want to be mean, but I don’t know if we can handle more waste (from a neighbouring municipality),” said Councillor Grogan.
Councillor Jim Cahill said that if the township did accept waste from Central Manitoulin, “we would be talking more staffing costs. At this point, I don’t think we should accept their (Central Manitoulin) waste.”
Councillor Michael Hunt said, “it is a tricky situation, we just can’t take on more waste.” He noted that Billings takes part in the annual hazardous waste day collection, which is hosted by Central Manitoulin.
“We pay for participating in the hazardous waste day,” said Councillor Hillyard. “They (Central Manitoulin) do everyone who participates a favour by hosting the hazardous waste collection. If we only have a 13-year capacity for our landfill, we have to look at expanding our own site or looking at alternatives.”
Councillor Cahill suggested Billings could offer to be a partner with Central in working on more innovative ways of recycling items, such as glass.
“I don’t think we should take the waste from Central Manitoulin,” said Councillor Hillyard. “With a limit on the capacity our own dump has, as a municipality our best option is to say no.”
“I agree,” stated Mayor Barker. “We have seen a population increase in the township. Thirteen years is a not a long time to investigate options on our own site. Once a landfill is filled the process begins to find a new one. We have to say no at this particular time.”
Council was unanimous in declining the request to take Central Manitoulin waste.
Central Manitoulin’s request for use of the Northeast Town landfill as an interim solution to dealing with waste management, while it prepares to close its own landfill, was brought up at the February 6 meeting of Northeast town council.
Northeast Town CAO Dave Williamson advised council to not entertain the request from Central Manitoulin.
“We are currently moving to attenuation, so the timing is terrible, and the landfill is the most expensive piece of property we have,” he said, noting that taking on another municipality’s waste, even in the short-term, would be a burden on the site.
Mr. Williamson said he thought the municipality (Central Manitoulin) may as well haul their waste to the Dodge landfill in Espanola, which has a much larger site, if they were willing to cart it as far as the Northeast Town.
“We have to maintain what we have so I’m opposed,” said Councillor Bill Koehler.
Central Manitoulin’s request of the Northeast Town was denied.
Tehkummah Township council also dealt with the request from Central Manitoulin at its meeting last week. “We discussed the request and turned it down. We don’t have the capacity to take on another municipality’s waste. We turned down the request,” said Reeve John Deforge.
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