Notice of Public Input Session: Solid Waste Management EA

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

􀀃Background

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) Study to determine the preferred method for managing its municipal solid waste. To date significant progress has been made.

Workshops and an Open House were held in the late spring of 2007 to present the waste management alternatives being considered. The input received was incorporated into the evaluation and the preferred waste management alternative was identified as increased waste diversion through reduction, reuse and recycling (i.e. 3Rs) and landfilling of the residual waste. The preferred alternative was presented at an Open House in June, 2010.

The study noted:
  • landfills can be designed and operated to comply with regulations and policies;
  • landfill gas can be collected and flared or recovered to generate electricity;
  • landfills can manage the entire residual waste stream;
  • landfills are flexible to changes in waste quality and quantities; and
  • landfilling is cost effective.
In April, 2011 a Public Input Session was held to present the non-site specific landfill alternatives being considered. The evaluation, which considered responses from consultation, concluded that an expansion of an existing landfill is generally preferred over construction of a new site.

The study noted:
  • an expansion requires less land;
  • displaces fewer people and/or social/natural features;
  • disrupts fewer people (i.e. one site versus two sites creating nuisance impacts);
  • costs less;
  • typically encounters fewer challenges in gaining technical approvals; and
  • reduces the number of facilities the City must manage.
In March 2012 a Public Input Session was held to present the preliminary preferred approach to expanding the existing landfill at 402 Fifth Line East in the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The evaluation, which considered responses from consultation, concluded that an expansion is best accommodated with a moderate increase in the height of the waste together with and expansion of the disposal footprint to the north and west. The preferred option also includes landfill mining (excavate existing disposed waste and cover material, recover earthen material or "fines" and return the waste to the disposal footprint) in the western portion of the existing disposal footprint to enhance groundwater protection. All mined and expansion areas will include the construction of a liner beneath the waste to collect leachate (precipitation contaminated as it filters through waste) and ultimately direct it to the City's sewage treatment plant for treatment.

Current Activities

Presently the project team is focusing on completing an impact assessment for the preferred expansion option. The impact assessment includes expertise from numerous disciplines and focusses on potential impacts to the natural and human environments associated with the construction and operation of the proposed expansion. Careful attention is given to best management practices to mitigate potential impacts.

We are now seeking input from the Community, government agencies, stakeholders, and First Nations regarding the results of our impact assessment work and the proposed mitigation measures.

Public Input Session

If you are interested in discussing the impact assessment work, we encourage you to attend the upcoming public open house! We will provide you with background information and discuss with you, the preferred site expansion option and the results of the impact assessment work.

Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Location: Civic Centre - Russ Ramsay Board Room, Level 3
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Refreshments to be provided.

If you cannot attend the public open house, we still want to hear from you! Just go to the project webpage (address provided below) to review the project reference material and fill out a comment sheet or simply send us an email (email addresses provided below). Project webpage address: saultstemarie.ca/SolidWasteEA.

Contact Us

We also encourage you to contact the individuals noted below if you have any specific questions.

Rick Talvitie, P.Eng
Project Manager
AECOM
523 Wellington Street East
Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2M4
Phone: 705-942-2612
Fax: 705-942-3642
Email: rick.talvitie@aecom.com

Catherine Taddo, P.Eng.
Land Development and Environmental Engineer
City of Sault Ste. Marie
P.O. Box 580
99 Foster Drive
Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 5N1
Phone: 705-759-5380
Fax: 705-541-7165
Email: c.taddo@cityssm.on.ca 
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Contact Us

Phone
705-759-2500

Email
info@cityssm.on.ca

Fax
705-759-2310

TTY
1-877-688-5528

Location
99 Foster Drive
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
P6A 5X6