Three staff reports related to Sechelt landfill projects proceeded directly to Sunshine Coast Regional District Board funding votes, rather than to committee debate, on Sept. 12.
Exploring landfill height expansion
Existing budgets have funds available to pay $130,000 for “an assessment of waste export as a long-term waste disposal option and options for a vertical expansion at the Sechelt Landfill, as well as a business case comparing the two scenarios” according to a report on the meeting agenda.
“The regulatory and technical feasibility of constructing a retaining wall around the perimeter of the landfill to allow for additional waste burial above what is currently possible at the site will be explored,” that document states.
If determined to be feasible, vertical expansion may provide additional landfill life past 2030, which the report says is “much needed time to further explore long-term waste disposal options on the Coast."
The board unanimously approved the award of a contract for the work to Sperling Hansen Associates, the only firm to submit a valid bid for the job.
Scale replacement coming
Another ask to the board was for $150,000 for emergency replacement for the facility’s 30-year-old scale.
According to a staff report, that piece of infrastructure failed during August, resulting in a few days where weighing incoming garbage could not be done. The only alternative available to site staff was to charge customers the minimum fee of $5 for separated and $10 for non-separated loads rather than the rate of $150 per tonne. Provisions were made to rent a scale, and its installation required the closure of the landfill on Sept. 3 and 4.
The report estimated lost revenue, the installation of the temporary scale and the rental scale’s monthly costs total “upwards of $100,000."
“These costs and loss revenue will be factored into the 2024 Q3 variance and have been absorbed through the current budget,” the report stated. The scale purchase is to be funded from landfill operating reserves.
Staff noted at the meeting a new scale is expected to take up to six months to construct and install.
In discussion at the meeting, Gibsons area director Silas White asked when scale replacement was scheduled under the site’s asset management plan. Solid waste services manager Marc Sole admitted that the solid waste function does not have asset management plans in place, but that the incident has prompted staff to look at preparing such plans for both the landfill and the Pender Harbour waste transfer station.
Contact expansion for potential operating certificate change
The third solid waste-related board decision was to amend the SCRD’s contract with Trace Associates to include provision of additional reports required by the province under Sechelt landfill’s operational certificate and pending amendments to that certificate for the Contact Water Pond Relocation project.
The change will see the SCRD provide $46,240 to Trace for the add-ons, with those funds covered in this year’s base operating budget for the landfill and by extra funds in the approved Internet Connectivity capital project for that site.
