Otter Lake landfill bill gets trashed at regional council

Halifax regional council is concerned a new provincial law for the Otter Lake landfill that keeps the operation at is current height and size is inadequate.

A private member's bill, presented by MLA Iain Rankin, made it through thelegislature last week.

"There is that shock and awe over what's happened,"Coun.Bill Karstensaidduring a two-hour special session at city hall Wednesday afternoon.

'Just disappointed'

Several councillors complained they were not beingnotified and given a chance to provide any input regarding the landfill. Halifax council plans to send a letter to the province expressing its concerns.

"Whether our intervention would have meant anything I don't know," said Coun.Gloria McCluskey."But I'm just disappointed."

Other councillors are concerned that a new landfill site will have to be found within five years and that process could cost up to $90 million.

Nobody 'slowed down to smell the roses'

"Nobody has slowed down to smell the roses or even think of the consequences," said Coun. Russell Walker.

Some councillors suggested the move could mean Halifax will ask the province to change the solid waste regulations that will apply to the next landfill.

"Are the residents of Halifax so special that we require greater regulation around the handling of solid waste than any other resident in the province?" asked Coun.Jennifer Watts.

Enough space at the landfill now

Mayor Mike Savage cautioned his council colleagues not to overreact.

The mayorsays with current amount of garbage being collected, there's enough space at Otter Lake to put off finding a new landfill site for at least a decade.

"I think in 10 to 15 years there'll be some other technologies that we'll be using to deal with waste,"Savage said.

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