Clyde Jackman, environment and conservation minister was in the Coast of Bays last week to discuss various environmental issues in the region.
Greg Knott photo
Minister drops in to discuss environmental isses
GREG KNOTT The Coaster
Environment Minister Clyde Jackman visited the region last week to discuss various environmental issues including those associated with the aquaculture industry.
With the aquaculture industry in the region growing quickly Minister Jackman said there are a number of important issues that must be addressed with industry stakeholders.
“We’re not waiting for the problem to get on our doorstep, we’re out planning how we are going to move forward,” said Minister Jackman.
One of the major issues he said they will be discussing is the increased amount of fish feed coming into the region and the waste associated with it. The large amount of feed coming into the region brings with it a lot of packaging including large quantities of plastics.
He praised industry stakeholders for jumping ahead of government and seeking to address those issues before they become a problem.
Garbage dumps
Minister Jackman also touched on a number of other issues of environmental concern in the region.
Earlier this year the government announced a reorganization of municipal landfill sites province-wide. Eventually the plan calls for the establishment of three mega-dumps on the island portion of the province. Central Newfoundland garbage will be trucked to a site close to Norris Arm.
Minister Jackman said the Department of Municipal Affairs is taking the lead on that project but a number of factors have to be taken into account including shipping distance and transfer stations.
He said right now the project is rolling out and he said over $150 million has been committed to the initiative.
As compared to other provinces in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador is far behind in terms of waste management. But in the past few years according to Minister Jackman the province has decreased the number of garbage dumps from 250 to 200.
“But we need to decrease those more. More and more people are recognizing that it’s not acceptable to be spewing toxic fumes into the air.”
Recycling
Minister Jackman also touched on recycling in rural areas. He said people are getting ahead of the government in terms of recycling.
“We as a government got to catch up.”
Currently in Harbour Breton there is recycling collection once per month. Besides a few organizations that collect recyclables for charity and other initiatives, recycling programs are almost non-existent in many rural communities as compared to larger centers.
With the governments waste management plan Minister Jackman said there’s going to be improved recycling initiatives. He said it’s important not to limit these programs, such as curbside recycling, to larger towns.
Right now in the province he said we are only recycling glass, plastics and cans.
“People are wondering about their milk containers and their javex containers and paper,” said Minister Jackman. “Another one that’s coming out very quickly is electronic waste.”
He said all of this is going to have to come under one plan and as the overall provincial waste management strategy rolls out all of those components will fall into place.
