Moose Jaw City Council heard from representatives from the Ministry of Environment, GHD Limited and Associated Engineering on Monday night to answer questions about the city’s proposed new waste management facility. 

According to the Ministry of Environment, the Municipal Refuse Management Regulations date back to 1986 and are not very comprehensive. That is why Saskatchewan looks at best management practices in neighbouring provinces like Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. In Moose Jaw’s case, Alberta’s The Standards of Landfills in Alberta, 2010 is being used. 

The solid waste management facility will include environmental compliance features such as leachate, stormwater, and landfill gas management, scale and scale house, public drop-off area for household waste and recycling, landfill, concrete and asphalt management, wood waste management, and composting as per regulations. 

The operation permit does not allow for landfills within 500 metres of a place where food is cooked or prepared for human consumption, any buildings occupied as a residence, a school, church, community centre or recreation facility or similar public building and not within 100 metres of a highway or cemetery. The setback distance for landfills is also regulated to be no closer than 300 metres from water bodies. 

This is why the city cannot expand from the current landfill site. 

“Challenges that the site would be faced with if they wanted to expand at that current site is that, again, the setback distances, water bodies, residents and the airport are all within setbacks for a new landfill. We wouldn’t typically approve a landfill being in this location today,” said Tara Pidborochynski with the Ministry of Environment. 

She added that the current landfill would also be within the setback of Highway 1. 

Currently GHD Limited and Associated Engineering have partnered with the city to create a discretionary use application to bring forward to the RM of Moose Jaw for the 390-acre site about 2.5 km north of the city. 

Traffic was a concern brought up by area residents. The RM has requested a Traffic Impact Assessment, and a new application will be submitted with its results. 

Jennifer Taylor with Associated Engineering said the Traffic Impact Assessment is nearly completed. 

“This assessment will help better understand the future impacts of development on the surrounding road network and it will inform specific upgrades that will be needed to address traffic safety. So, the Traffic Impact Assessment is nearly completed,” Taylor said. 

The city held an open house on Feb. 22 that had about 100 people attend. The RM then held a public hearing on March 19 with about 70 attendees. 

During both meetings landowners in the area expressed opposition to the proposed site. Some of the feedback that was heard included: 

  • Land devaluation 
  • Impacts to the watershed 
  • Increased traffic 
  • Project budget 
  • Use of prime agriculture land 
  • Consideration of alternative locations 
  • Lack of transparency and communication 
  • Operations such as litter, odour, dust, nuisance management, etc. 
  • Improved operations and environmental compliance compared to the existing facility. 

Coun. Kim Robison asked if the use of prime agricultural land was taken into consideration was choosing the site. 

Jeff Dereniwski with the Ministry of Environment said it was taken into consideration during the environmental assessment process. 

“Historically speaking, landfills were often sited in low-value ag land, which is why we are running into a lot of situations today with non-compliance and siting issues around surface and ground water,” said Dereniwski. 

During the RM’s public hearing, attendees heard from Randall Johnson, president of Aspen Innovation Park. Johnson claimed to have Carbotura Zero-Fill Technology that makes 100 per cent of waste into recyclable material. 

City manager Maryse Carmichael said she did meet with Johnson after the hearing. Carmichael said she is still looking into it but has concerns. 

“As a city manager who is responsible here at the city in guarding our public funds, I have a hard time looking at an option that is not certified in Canada yet and is not in use anywhere in North America,” said Carmichael. 

You can find more information about the proposed waste management site on the City of Moose Jaw website.