YORKTON – New landfill rates regarding recyclables, impacted soil, outside city residential refuse, spent bleaching clay/semi-solid/oil compost by-products and outside city spent bleaching clay/semi-solid/oil compost by-products will come into effect on September 1, 2022.
"With the added expenses to construct new cells and more stringent environmental regulations for establishing new landfills, it’s imperative to best manage the available air space to maximize the city’s capital investments," said Lyndon Hicks, Solid Waste and Environmental Programs Manager with the City of Yorkton at the the August 7 Council meeting.
Hicks went on to detail the new proposed rates.
Recyclables exceeding 10 per cent by weight will triple the rate.
"We have found that often the actual weight of these loads is minimal and thus the penalty/charge for bringing recyclables to the landfill isn’t enough to deter these clients. The hope is that increasing the charge will further reduce the quantity of recyclable material entering the landfill," said Hicks.
The new rate for impacted soil under will be $30 per tonne for inside city and $45 per tonne for outside city versus the existing rate of $103.50 per tonne for contaminated/impacted soil over the Saskatchewan Environmental Quality guidelines.
"SEQ guidelines are provincial benchmarks or indicators of environmental quality and they become legally binding when referenced in Saskatchewan legislation, permits or code," said Hicks, adding, "SEQ guidelines have been created to identify materials that do not require additional treatment and can be placed directly into an engineered landfill cell. Prior to the engineered cell, this material had to be treated before it could be used as cover."
The rate for outside city residential refuse increases to $115.00 per tonne from $112.50 per tonne.
"This increase will cover the city’s costs incurred from outside communities’ glass being deposited at SARCAN Yorkton," said Hicks.
Spent bleaching clay/semi-solid/oil compost by-products will see an increase from 53.50 per tonne to $60 per tonne.
"That'll be the inside city rate," said Hicks, adding, "this is for the green clay from the crush plants, primarily. The rate change for this is the result of increased handling charges and increased testing demands, primarily from the regulatory agencies – Sask Environment.”
“So the outside city spent bleaching clay would be a new rate that we would be adding – the new rate would be $90 per tonne,” said Hicks, noting that the reason for adding the new rate would be to keep the charges consistent with the other services offered by the department – primarily water and sewer.
“Raising these rates will bring additional revenue to the landfill,” said Hicks, adding, “upon Councils approval, the change in rates will be communicated to all clients affected, rate changes will be made to all signage at the landfill and we'll be posted on our website as well as social media.”
“The Environmental Committee recognizes the need to make changes and increases to the landfill
fees and supports the Environmental Services Department’s recommendations to increase the
recycling levy in an attempt to further grow recycling participation,” said Hicks.
"Reading the rates – with some of users meeting the standards – does that mean that maybe some of their rates will be cheaper for them?” asked Mayor Hippsley.
“With the SEQ guidelines and the impacted soil – for sure,” said Hicks, adding, “this was a way for us to be more competitive – adding that rate,” said Hicks in regards to the rate for impacted soil, adding, “it is a benefit for us to be able to take that impacted soil below the SEQ guidelines cause instead of hauling clean fill into the landfill...we're using this material and still collecting a little bit on it too.”
Hicks went on to add that revenue would be set aside for future expansion.
“Are our staff ever in a position where they have to determine the soil – whether it's impacted or not – or does the soil show up with paper work?” asked Councillor Brears.
“It never just shows up on site,” said Hicks, adding, “there's always consultation inquiries – usually it's companies that are bidding projects and they'll be supplying you with the paper work on the test results for the soil and asking your rate – and so you're reviewing the analysis and giving a rate based on that.”
Hicks added that the testing is all from accredited labs.
With unanimous consent from Council all three readings were given to Sanitary Landfill Rate Fees Bylaw No. 14/2022.
