Blind River’s waste management plan environmental assessment needs some fine-tuning before it’s sent to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE ) for approval.
Chris Kresin, of Kresin Engineering Corporation, updated council on the process at its meeting Monday evening.
The plan will include expansion of the current town landfill site, handling of recyclable material from homes and businesses and handling of sludge, construction/demolition material and hazardous waste collection. The plan is for waste handling alternatives over a 25-year period as required by the MOE.
An essential part of the process will be a public meeting to offer residents information about the plan and input from the public. No date has been set for the public meeting.
“We find that allows the best opportunity,” he said gathering information from the public meeting.
On the landfill site council initiated an environmental planning process for a doubling of the size of the facility. Several sites were looked at as the current landfill is expected to reach capacity by 2022. Expansion was the chosen option to a four-hectare site.
“The waste management plan looks at your diversion, recycling, waste reduction, …a component of which is landfilling.” he said.
The proposed planning period is 25 years and that’s dictated through the Ministry of the Environment,” he added.
The plan also includes how waste collection is currently handled by the town, including monthly pick up of large household items such as fridges and stoves.
Reduction, diversion, reuse, and handling of waste will also be part of the plan once it is in place.
An environmental study report will be developed based on comments and concerns raised by government agency and public input.
Mayor Sally Hagman asked what the next steps will be in the process.
Kresin said getting public input will be a key to the plan for MOE approval. If approved, it will require “ministerial approval” as the final step.