Landfill has profitable year, plans paving

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

C. Davis photo (2007)

"I'm really quite proud of what's happening at the landfill," said Town Councillor Roy Smyth, who represents the Town on the Regional Landfill Board, at the Town Council's meeting on January 23.  "We've just finished filling up the existing municipal waste MSW pile, and have it capped, and we've just started using an existing new cell since December."

"We have opportunity to bring in municipal solid waste from other areas," Smyth continued.  Right now we are taking in MSW from the Sparwood area and that income we have got from that has allowed us to update our equipment, so we have all good equipment out there."

"There is opportunity there, particularly for planning to go ahead paving our road to the landfill this year.  It will be an all-weather road, no road bans."  Smyth expects this will help make the landfill more attractive to other potential customers.  "It's a success story, we're making money there.  And so our plan is to have a fair chunk of money ready to put toward that paving."

Tipping fees have been raised by $3.00 a tonne to help pay for the paving project.
The bin area of the yard will also be paved. According to Smyth this is the first time tipping fees have been increased in a number of years.  The entrance may be made separate from the entrance to ease the movement of traffic in and out of the dump.

MD Councillor Terry Yagos Chairs the Regional Landfill Board,and was similarly enthusiastic at the MD Council meeting held on January 24.  He said the 25 year plan indicated lots of life for the landfill, and that ongoing recycling projects would extend that life.  "In the future we could have our own waste to energy incinerators," he said.  Yagos said the Landfill made around $190,000 in profit last year. He also indicated the Past Closure Monitoring Fund is now being adequately served by the interest accruing to that fund.