Feature Article March 27, 2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeNorth Frontenac looks again at Waste Managementby Jeff Green
A presentation by George Wilson of Eco-waste Solutions, a Burlington-based company that builds incineration units, dominated North Frontenac Councils March 24 Meeting.
The Eco-Waste System proposal was well received by council, for a number of reasons. While the price tag exceeds $1.25 million, it might turn out to be cheaper than other options being faced by council. Council has already been asked by its auditor to put aside three quarters of a million dollars towards the cost of closing landfill sites in the future, according to councillor Dick Hook, who sits on the Waste Management Committee of Council.
One of the appeals of the Eco-Waste System is the possibility of mining the existing waste from sites, said George Wilson. The smallest incineration unit Eco-Waste makes is capable of burning 4 tons of waste at a time and it takes about 12 hours to complete a burn. Since North Frontenac only produces about 25 tons of waste annually, there would be more than ample time to dig up buried waste and burn it, extending the life of waste disposal sites indefinitely, and potentially saving that of a million dollars.
As well, Mayor Stan Johnson pointed out, There is potential income from offering to burn garbage from outside the township as well.
The
Eco-Waste Oxider system consists of three separate units. According to
a company pamphlet, the primary chamber burns unsorted waste at
relatively low temperatures in the range or 500 to 650 Celsius. Once
the fire is going, the waste itself becomes the fuel until the volume
is reduced by 90%.
The secondary Chamber operates at 1000 Celsius, and is designed to reburn all the smoke and gases from the primary chamber.
Canadian regulations require a third process, which is a water bath style scrubber that treats remaining exhaust to capture particulate and neutralize acid gas and vapours, according to the company.
In the end the systems will produce an inert ash that is only 10% of the volume it takes in, and scrubbed fumes out of its stack that exceed environmental standards for all chemicals by a large margin. according to Wilson.
Since being approved by Canadian regulators in 1994, the Eco-Waste system has been put in place in 26 different locations, including locations in the high Arctic.
Another option council had discussed recently is a Plasma Resource Recovery System, as outlined in an article in The Frontenac News in December of 2002. A costing for such a system had not been finalized at that time.
Councillors on the Waste Management Committee were so enthusiastic about the Eco-Waste system that they immediately responded to an invitation by Wilson to set a date to see it in action in Burlington, and chose May 13.
Underscoring the impending cost increases for Waste Management, Councillor Hook reported to council later on in the meeting that the waste management committee feels were going to have to go to a bag tag system to bring in some money for waste management. North Frontenac has a seasonal population numbering 6,000, and 1,500 year-round residents, so council feels that putting all the burden for waste management on the tax rolls would be unfair to those who only use the system for two or three months of the year.
Other Business: Kashawakamak Road.
Bill Gould appeared before council inquiring about the status of road improvements to Kashawakamak Road. Mayor Johnston recalled that the road is not all tarred and chipped yet. The township needs the approval of two landowners who live on a forced road section of road in order to complete the project. Wed like to get it resolved, Johnston concluded. Our commitment is to try to get that road done.
LOLCN:
The Land O Lakes Communications Network (LOLCN) again requested a commitment of $5,000 from North Frontenac towards a grant application they are making this week to the federal government. The application seeks funding for the development of a business plan to bring broadband internet service to the Land O Lakes. Last fall, the township made such a commitment, but the LOLCN was not successful in getting the grant and the money was not charged to the township. Mayor Johnston was not enthusiastic about the proposal this time, however. What I need to understand is that even if this is accepted, how can it be made practical?
Council passed a motion supporting the grant application in principle, but did not approve the $5,000 commitment at this time. Council will request that Jim MacPherson of LOLCN come to the next meeting to provide more detail, before approving the $5,000 expenditure.
Administrative Matters:
- A decision was taken to return to the townships insurance contract to Jardine Lloyd Thomson at a cost of $55,000. Last year the township switched to Cowan Inc., but Jardines quote was $5,500 less this year.
- Tax bills will be prepared for release, barring any unforeseen eventuality, on April 16 and May 23.
