Council forgoes Hawk Lake transfer station
By Chad Ingram
When
Algonquin Highlands township closes the Hawk Lake landfill in a couple
of years’ time, the site will be shut down, meaning residents will need
to travel to nearby landfills at Maple Lake or Pine Springs.
Algonquin Highlands township closes the Hawk Lake landfill in a couple
of years’ time, the site will be shut down, meaning residents will need
to travel to nearby landfills at Maple Lake or Pine Springs.
Algonquin Highlands councillors discussed the fate of the Hawk Lake landfill during a July 18 meeting.
As
previously reported, the landfill has approximately three years left in
its operational life, and the small site has been deemed not suitable
for expansion. Closure is planned for 2021. During last week’s meeting,
councillors needed to decide whether the site would be converted to a
transfer station, similar to the one the township operates at Dorset, or
shut down completely.
previously reported, the landfill has approximately three years left in
its operational life, and the small site has been deemed not suitable
for expansion. Closure is planned for 2021. During last week’s meeting,
councillors needed to decide whether the site would be converted to a
transfer station, similar to the one the township operates at Dorset, or
shut down completely.
Algonquin
Highlands currently operates five waste disposal sites. Along with the
Hawk Lake landfill and Dorset transfer station, there are landfills at
Oxtongue Lake, Pine Springs near Lake Kushog, and Maple Lake.
Highlands currently operates five waste disposal sites. Along with the
Hawk Lake landfill and Dorset transfer station, there are landfills at
Oxtongue Lake, Pine Springs near Lake Kushog, and Maple Lake.
“We’ve been talking about the lifespan of this landfill,” said Mayor Carol Moffatt. “We have known that this day would come.”
Moffatt said whatever decision council made needed to balance finances with what’s good for the public.
The
estimated closure costs for the site total approximately $250,000. With
ongoing monitoring costs as well as the cost of operations being
increased at other sites, a staff report from environmental co-ordinator
Melissa Murray indicated the cost in the first year would total
approximately $307,000. The cost of converting to a seasonal transfer
station was estimated at $409,000, the cost for a year-round transfer
station $427,000. The Hawk Lake landfill cost approximately $65,000 to
operate in 2018, and going forward, those staff operations will be
transferred to other sites. The township will need to continue to pay
for monitoring and reporting services at the site, in the amount of
$12,500 per year.
estimated closure costs for the site total approximately $250,000. With
ongoing monitoring costs as well as the cost of operations being
increased at other sites, a staff report from environmental co-ordinator
Melissa Murray indicated the cost in the first year would total
approximately $307,000. The cost of converting to a seasonal transfer
station was estimated at $409,000, the cost for a year-round transfer
station $427,000. The Hawk Lake landfill cost approximately $65,000 to
operate in 2018, and going forward, those staff operations will be
transferred to other sites. The township will need to continue to pay
for monitoring and reporting services at the site, in the amount of
$12,500 per year.
Councillors had a lengthy discussion regarding the landfill’s closure.
It is estimated the process for conversion to a transfer station would take two to five years.
“I keep flip-flopping,” said Councillor Lisa Barry. “There’s part of me that really wants a transfer station.”
“I keep flip-flopping,” said Councillor Lisa Barry. “There’s part of me that really wants a transfer station.”
Barry
did say, however, she’d be voting for a transfer station mostly out of
convenience for area residents, and did have some concerns about the
additional transportation costs and emissions that would be associated
with a transfer station.
did say, however, she’d be voting for a transfer station mostly out of
convenience for area residents, and did have some concerns about the
additional transportation costs and emissions that would be associated
with a transfer station.
Operations
manager Adam Thorn noted that many area residents who do shopping in
Haliburton Village already regularly drive by the Maple Lake site on
their way to Haliburton.
“You drive right beside Maple landfill,” Thorn said.
manager Adam Thorn noted that many area residents who do shopping in
Haliburton Village already regularly drive by the Maple Lake site on
their way to Haliburton.
“You drive right beside Maple landfill,” Thorn said.
The
Maple Lake landfill, the township’s largest, is an estimated 12-minute
drive from the Hawk Lake site. Many residents already at least travel to
the Maple Lake landfill occasionally, since household garbage and
recycling are the only items accepted at Hawk Lake.
Maple Lake landfill, the township’s largest, is an estimated 12-minute
drive from the Hawk Lake site. Many residents already at least travel to
the Maple Lake landfill occasionally, since household garbage and
recycling are the only items accepted at Hawk Lake.
“It
is limited in what it can take,” Moffatt said. “Is our job to
accommodate convenience, or is our job to accommodate the best decision
going forward?”
is limited in what it can take,” Moffatt said. “Is our job to
accommodate convenience, or is our job to accommodate the best decision
going forward?”
Moffatt
also noted issues of safety and liability associated with transfer
stations, adding larger facilities were safer to maintain.
also noted issues of safety and liability associated with transfer
stations, adding larger facilities were safer to maintain.
Councillor
Jennifer Dailloux, noting that property taxes tend to increase year
over year, was concerned that a complete closure of the landfill may be
seen as a removal of service.
“It’s hard to remove services from a community,” Dailloux said.
Jennifer Dailloux, noting that property taxes tend to increase year
over year, was concerned that a complete closure of the landfill may be
seen as a removal of service.
“It’s hard to remove services from a community,” Dailloux said.
“It’s not a removal of service, it’s a removal of location of service,” said Moffatt.
According
to the report from Murray, the Hawk Lake landfill receives 18 per cent
of the township’s total landfill traffic, with more than 55 per cent of
that traffic being generated between May 1 and Oct. 1. During the peak
season of July and August, there is an average of 82 vehicles per day,
and the busiest day of 2018 at the site was the Victoria Day holiday
Monday, when 170 vehicles entered the landfill. For the entire year, the
average number of vehicles is 42 per day.
to the report from Murray, the Hawk Lake landfill receives 18 per cent
of the township’s total landfill traffic, with more than 55 per cent of
that traffic being generated between May 1 and Oct. 1. During the peak
season of July and August, there is an average of 82 vehicles per day,
and the busiest day of 2018 at the site was the Victoria Day holiday
Monday, when 170 vehicles entered the landfill. For the entire year, the
average number of vehicles is 42 per day.
Moffatt noted that in Oxtongue Lake there is one landfill, and in Dorset one transfer station.
“In the southern end of the community, people have three places to take their things,” she said.
“In the southern end of the community, people have three places to take their things,” she said.
Moffatt
said that down the road, “there could come a time when there’s one
landfill in Algonquin Highlands, full stop,” although added that would
likely not occur during the lifetimes of anyone in the room.
said that down the road, “there could come a time when there’s one
landfill in Algonquin Highlands, full stop,” although added that would
likely not occur during the lifetimes of anyone in the room.
Factoring
in the closure of the Hawk Lake landfill, a report from Murray
indicated the remaining estimated life spans of the township’s landfills
to be 28 years for Pine Springs, 73 years for Oxtongue Lake, and 88
years for the landfill at Maple Lake.
in the closure of the Hawk Lake landfill, a report from Murray
indicated the remaining estimated life spans of the township’s landfills
to be 28 years for Pine Springs, 73 years for Oxtongue Lake, and 88
years for the landfill at Maple Lake.
Ultimately,
councillors agreed that shutting down the Hawk Lake landfill and going
without a transfer station there was the most logical choice.
councillors agreed that shutting down the Hawk Lake landfill and going
without a transfer station there was the most logical choice.
“I
think closing Hawk and going to Maple makes the most sense,” said
Councillor Julia Shortreed, noting that the days of each small community
having its own landfill were a thing of the past.
think closing Hawk and going to Maple makes the most sense,” said
Councillor Julia Shortreed, noting that the days of each small community
having its own landfill were a thing of the past.
Interim
treasurer and former Dysart et al chief administrative officer Tammy
McKelvey noted that the township would continue to own the Hawk Lake
site, and that it could potentially be the location for alternative
waste disposal or waste processing in the future.
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