Centralized Depot Review

Following the completion of the Solid Waste Management Strategy, the Municipality has started to look into the recommendations outlined in the strategy. One such recommendation is to explore an centralized waste depot for the Municipality. A centralized depot would provide better convenience for residents, rather than having to rely on neighbouring municipalities and private companies in different locations for residential waste.

A review should be conducted to assess the recommendation of developing a centralized recycling depot. The review is expected to include:

• Verification of potential facilities – currently only Wolf Grove Road
• Effort required to establish depot
  • Internal expertise would be leveraged to high degree for design/permitting/construction
• Services to be provided initially at depot
  • Outline additional services that can be provided in future and effort needed to implement
• Timeline for implementing and cost estimate
• Description of benefits and drawbacks
• Public consultation on a proposed centralized depot
• Expected annual operating budget

Two recycling depots in the municipality currently service the entire population, however, the Howie Road facility currently closes in the winter due to low usership during these months. Depending on where a resident may live, they may have no other option than to travel 40 km one-way just to access a recycling depot – which is the case for some Ramsay ward residents in the winter months when the Howie Road depot is closed.  A centralized depot could be established which would consolidate operations and possibly allow for better service delivery.  

A central location for the Municipality that is already owned by the municipality (and zoned appropriately) is the Wolf Grove Excess Soil Management Facility. This facility could be used for both purposes – soil management and as a central depot.  The main benefits of establishing a centralized depot are as follows:

• Consolidate operations from two existing depots
• Central location is easier to access for all residents
• Facility can be developed to increase throughput
• Closer to public works garage – easier to access equipment required for regular operation
• Cease operating at closed landfill sites – reduce potential for ongoing monitoring
• Potential to administer services such as dump passes at the facility
  • Additional services could have positive effects on diversion rate