Mackenzie and area residents will have a brand new facility for waste disposal and improved waste diversion options beginning December 1. With funding from the New Building Canada-Small Communities Fund, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George has built a new state-of-the-art transfer station to replace the former landfill.
“It is exciting to see the completion of the Mackenzie Transfer Station that will improve the ability of the regional district to manage solid waste and make it easier for its residents to help keep harmful waste out of landfills,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, in a news release. “Our government is committed to investing in infrastructure projects like this that help local governments, the community and the environment.”
The new Mackenzie Transfer Station facility offers improved convenience and additional waste diversion opportunities with recycling drop off now available on site. A bin has been placed at the site to accept mixed paper and cartons and containers as well as a bin for corrugated cardboard recycling. This is in addition to current recycling drop off locations within the community. There are also designated places on-site to drop off used oil, old propane tanks, antifreeze, household appliances, automotive batteries and yard and garden waste. The swap shed will also be available on site.
There is no change to what items can be disposed of at the site and tipping fees and operational hours remain unchanged. With the opening of the new transfer station, the existing landfill will shift to accept demolition and land clearing debris and construction waste only.
Four new permanent positions (one full-time, three part time) have been created as part of the operational plan for the new facility.
This was an extensive project that began in late March and included the construction of the transfer station facility and replacement of the scale and scale house.
“With the opening of this facility, we are closer to reaching our objectives to increase recycling opportunities, and minimize waste being sent to our landfills. We also want to thank the residents of Mackenzie for their patience over the past few months while the facility was being constructed. We hope residents share our excitement about the new transfer station opening,” said Lara Beckett, Vice Chair of the Regional District Board and Chair of the RDFFG Environment and Parks Standing Committee.
The total value of the project is estimated at $2.3 million, with two-thirds of that funding coming from the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the New Building Canada-Small Communities Fund. The remaining amount was funded through the Regional District.