Mud Lake gets garbage incinerator reprieve

The small Labrador community of Mud Lake has been given an extra year to find an affordable alternative to burning its garbage.

The community's teepee-style incinerator was supposed to have been shut down by now as part of a provincewide order to take incinerators out of service, but the provincial government has given the village a12-month reprieve to find other means of garbage disposal.

People in the isolated community fought the order, arguing that the village is in a marshy area so a landfill wouldn't work and it has no road connections to truck the garbage out.

"We asked for the incinerator to continue being used, but they're definitely against that so we have to look at alternatives shipping to Goose Bay or whatever," said Mud Lake resident Dave Raeburn, who noted the extra time is what resident have been seeking.

Residents are concerned fees for garbage removal could go as high as $100 a month for each household, and a barge would be needed to move the garbage during the winter.

The province will send a consultant to Mud Lake to help residents find a solution.