Going it alone

The Bay St. George regional waste management strategy just got a little less regional with the withdrawal of Stephenville Crossing from the group's master plan.

As the town of Stephenville also chose to do recently, Stephenville Crossing says it will keep its current system of garbage collection and not take part in a regional curbside pick up program, deeming it too costly for the town and its residents.

"Stephenville will be collecting their own waste, separating it, creating a compost system and recycling before remaining waste is delivered to the dump," said councillor Vince Parsons, who also sits on the newly elected Bay St. George Waste Management Committee.

"This is to reduce costs at the dump site since the tipping fee is based on tonnage."

Councillor Parsons told council at its regular monthly meeting last week that the cost to the town of going along with the regional curbside pick up plan would be about $92 per household.

The councillor said there are 934 households in Stephenville Crossing at present. The regional plan will run them about $67,024 a year for the next three years with an additional $18,680 per year for site costs, a total of $85,928.92 per year based on this number of households.

"If we choose to stick with our old system and make modifications, this would be around $46 per household and we will pay about $43,000 each year instead of over $67,000."

The councillor said tipping fees at the St. George's dump will be the same for everyone as they are legislated. He added the town will have to do its utmost to encourage residents to recycle.

"As council we have to decide now. The brunt of it is falling on us now [with Stephenville's withdrawal]," he said.

Deputy Mayor Brian Joy reminded council that they all agreed at a previous meeting what they would do in that situation.

"We decided a while ago if it was cheaper we would stay on our own and keep a man working," he said.

Councillor Lisa Lucas corrected him and said in fact three men work in the town collecting waste at present.

Council voted and passed a motion to stay on its own and not join in the regional plan at the present time.

Councillor Parsons informed council that work has begun by Harvey Gale & Son to clean up the site at the present St. George's dump. The company will also install fencing. Scales will be installed and tenders for site operator will be called in the next week or so.

He said the start up date for the new dump is slated for Aug. 1.

Sitting on the newly elected waste management committee with Mr. Parsons is Peter Fenwick as chair, John MacPherson as vice chair, Barry Noftall as treasurer. Directors will be representatives from other communities using the site.

reporter@thegeorgian.ca