WELLINGTON COUNTY – Over 300 tonnes of landfill has been diverted from county waste facilities due to the acceptance of new materials.
On May 1, the county began accepting shingles, drywall and mattresses, which are separated from waste, at facilities in Belwood, Harriston, Aberfoyle and Riverstown.
The diverted materials represent approximately two per cent of annual waste tonnage disposed in landfill.
“Initial estimates were that the county could expect to divert 720 tonnes of these materials annually,” states a Sept. 9 solid waste services committee report.
The performance of the expanded diversion program to date suggests these estimates are likely to be achieved on an annual basis.
“At these rates, diverting 4% of annual waste tonnage over the 25-year projected lifespan of phase two of the Riverstown landfill would add a year’s worth of capacity to the site,” the report stated.
The Riverstown landfill site is located near Kenilworth and can handle larger vehicle dump trucks.
Phase two is “basically a garbage mound,” county manager of solid waste services Das Soligo told the Advertiser.
“We’ve only developed half of the space so far and in future years we’re going to excavate, put in the infrastructure and develop the other half,” he explained.
The site took waste for over 50 years but when it finally reached capacity “we started developing phase two on the same property,” Soligo said.
“We will essentially be building a rectangle-shaped waste mound over time,” he said.
“We’re filling in one area and then you develope the next area and fill in there.”
Also noted in the report was an update to the Elora Waste Facility improvements that began in April.
The site is still temporarily closed but anticipated to reopen on Dec. 2, according to Soligo.
“This is subject to change due to weather and construction ability,” he said.
The project costs are tracking within the approved budgeted amount of $3.9 million.
The main upgrade features include:
- expanded drop-off area;
- scale house construction with installation of dual scales;
- replacement of retaining wall and household hazardous waste building; and
- paving and concrete works.
Major components underway include:
- framing of scale house structure;
- backfilling of granulars behind new lock block wall; and
- preparation for concrete pour for elevated curbs.
Upon reopening the Elora site will accept the diversion materials.
The Rothsay facility is the only site not accepting the materials due to a lack of space.
