Dump no more

However, if this is one of your regular weekly, monthly or yearly routines, it's about to come to an end.

The last official day for the Gander landfill site is Feb. 4, as it is for many others throughout central Newfoundland.

On Feb. 6, communities classified in the Central Newfoundland Waste Management Authority's direct haul sector, which are communities approximately within a 100-mile radius of the Central Newfoundland Waste Management site, will ship their waste to the authority's site in Norris Arm.

Ed Evans, CNWMA's executive director, told The Beacon last month this sector constitutes approximately 65 per cent of the communities within CNWMA's coverage area.

What it means for residents of towns such as Gander, Glenwood, Appleton, Benton, Lewisporte and Grand Falls-Windsor is no more trips to the local landfill.

"Simply put, as of Feb. 6 we don't own it anymore, and it won't be used as a landfill anymore," said Gander councilor Rob Anstey, who chairs the town's municipal works and services committee. "The lock will go on the gate as of closing time Feb. 4, and the landfill will be closed." Coun. Anstey said workers with the provincial government would come in at a later date and be responsible for the clean-up.

Leading up to the closing date of landfills within the region, there's been much debate on whether or not there will be an increase in illegal dumping of waste, especially bigger items such as old furniture, fridges, stoves, etc.

To help head off the possibility of such occurrences, Coun. Anstey said the Town of Gander will be installing cameras at its former landfill site, as well as other areas in and around town it feels may be potential dump sites to monitor any illegal activity.

"We expect these to be put into place as soon as physically possible," he said, noting the cameras have been ordered, and he expects it to be done by the time the landfill closes Feb. 4. "It's a way we see as deterring illegal dumping, but we're also hoping that people will monitor the situation, not only near the landfill but also on the back roads in the area."

Coun. Anstey said he expects it to take some time for this new waste management strategy to be fully accepted by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

"It's like any change, it takes awhile for people to come around, but they've been doing this for 25 years up on the mainland and it works up there," he said. "I think given time you'll see this as unacceptable as cigarette smoking as compared to what it used to be."

So with Feb. 6 as the switchover date for 65 per cent of the communities in central Newfoundland, what about the other 35 per cent?

According to Mr. Evans last month, these communities would use transfer sites, of which there are to be six in the central region. These will start coming into operation March 5, with one opening per week until April 9 - Buchans Junction (March 5), Point Leamington (March 12), Gander Bay (March 19), Indian Bay (March 26), New World Island/Twillingate (April 2), and Terra Nova (April 9).

He added these transfer sites will offer the same services as the regional site.

"Come April 9, we will see 42 landfills closed down, and all waste management services being completed at the regional site in Norris Arm, or the transfer stations," he told The Beacon.

Possible user

Even though the Gander landfill site will be closed for any type of use, Coun. Anstey said there is a possibility the access road into the landfill might still be used by the owner of a soil contamination business.

"There are details still being discussed about this possibility, but it's only early in the process, and government is involved," he said, adding the Town of Gander has told government it does not want any responsibility of what develops from the use of this roadway.

One other change that may be seen at the landfill in the near future is the location of the access gate.

According to Coun. Anstey, the gate will be moved closer to the road, and this is also being done to deter illegal dumping.

"The main message for our residents is the dump will not be open any more for business after Feb. 4."

khiggins@ganderbeacon.ca