Proper Waste Management Today For A Better Tomorrow SWANA Waste Management Workshops Saskatchewan November 2015

REACT Waste Management District The Ministry of Environment identified solid waste management as a priority in the early 1990’s. In 1992, the province instituted the Municipal Solid Waste Management Assistance Program (MSWMAP), which made funding available to two pilot regions. The two pilot regions were REACT Waste Management District and the Frenchman Valley Project.

REACT consists of 47 municipalities with a population of 26,000. Municipalities joined together to manage waste and recycling in a cost effective way to reduce the environmental foot print and share financial cost of land-filling. Waste diversion became a priority. Revenue to fund the system consists of per capita levies, tag a bag fees, commercial waste bins, landfill fees and recycling.

Thirty-one landfills have been decommissioned and replaced by 17 transfer stations. Two landfills, one located in Cudworth and one in Humboldt have been upgraded to meet Sask. Environment regulations. We are currently working on setting up a new landfill using the draft Landfill Chapter. The Humboldt site will then be decommissioned.

Decommissioning of Smaller Landfills Landfills decommissioned when REACT started up followed Saskatchewan Environment’s DRAFT Guideline for the Closure and Reclamation of Municipal Waste Disposal Grounds, October 21, The Municipal Refuse Management Regulations were in the process of being overhauled. The draft guideline for Closure and Reclamation of Municipal Waste Disposal Grounds was developed for REACT to be used in conjunction with the Engineering Consultant’s recommendation for landfills.

The guideline outlined basic expectations for closure and reclamations done in an environmentally acceptable manner considering long-term protection of the environment and possible re-use of the land. The draft guideline was to be reviewed by the Ministry and its relevancy assessed with the information obtained from REACT and throughout the closure of the 31 waste disposal grounds within the Authority.

Closure/Decommissioning Procedures Followed Notification to public that site would be closed Site cleanup of litter Public access to site prohibited after closed Grading and capping of one-half meter of clay and vegetate site Drainage away from site Site surveyed Register as a landfill on land titles End use as transfer station, storage, nature park, recreation site, wildlife refuge, agricultural land

Challenges of Siting a New Landfill Following guidelines of draft Landfill Chapter to construct Acquiring a suitable piece of land (NIMBY) Cost of land – good farmland = $$$$ High engineering and construction costs High operating costs to operate landfill to code Long Term planning factored in – economic and population growth Decommissioning costs set aside on a yearly basis

(Picture of Drilling on new site)

SWANA Waste Management Workshops Saskatchewan November 2015

What is “ARWMAS”? Association of Regional Waste Management Authorities of Saskatchewan Registered Non-profit Association created October 28, 2004 Membership includes 17 RWMA’s (Regional Waste Management Authorities) and 7 Associate members RWMAs service 17.5% of total population and 28.73% of the population that recycles

Why ARWMAS? To provide a forum for discussion of regional waste issues To assist regions with new program design/ development To secure long-term funding for regional waste diversion programs To encourage enforcement of Municipal Refuse Management Regulations (MRMR)

It’s a sensible solution… ARWMAS membership has increased as: more municipalities rationalize costs of waste regionalization offers economies of scale landfills are closed or retrofitted under MRMRs; regional planning is encouraged

It’s About the Long Term Plan! ARWMAS has aligned itself with SARM and SUMA to represent municipal concerns with regard to the province’s stewardship programs ARWMAS is working with the province to minimize financial assurances required under new Environmental Code ARWMAS continues to work with government to address waste regulation enforcement and development of compliant landfills

ARWMAS is About.. “ Implementing economical waste management solutions with a unified voice… LET’S TALK!!!”

Association of Regional Waste Management Authorities of Saskatchewan Inc. Suite Cynthia Street Saskatoon, SK S7L 7K7 (306) REACT Waste Management District Box 810 Humboldt, SK S0K 2A0 (306)