SHERBROOKE — The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s has awarded a contract for the removal of construction and demolition (C&D) waste from its transfer station in Goldenville, which hasn’t been collected since it stopped receiving and processing it in early 2024.
During a special council meeting on Dec. 23, council approved the tender from Nova Construction for $182,450 (before HST) for the project.
In a media release, Warden James Fuller said, “Construction and demolition debris have been an issue vexing us for several years,” adding that, with often conflicting information provided from provincial officials, and the extreme cost of engineering a new cell at the transfer station, “The waiting has gone on long enough.”
In a report to council at the committee of the whole (COW) meeting Nov. 20, Chief Administrative Officer Doug Patterson noted the high costs that could be incurred meeting the new environmental regulations implemented by the province. He noted that municipal staff had been researching ways to meet the requirements, including getting advice from the province on what could be done to allow disposal services to continue at the existing transfer station.
Although it was determined at that time that the soil at that site was not suitable, Patterson explained municipal staff was continuing an effort – including carrying out additional testing – “to see if there are ways to create storage cells there that are affordable,” such as a smaller-scale residential service.
At the Nov. 20 meeting, Patterson also noted to council that a lot of C&D material remained at the transfer station because municipal staff wanted to continue to come up with ideas as to the cheapest way to dispose of it “in the public’s best interest.”
He explained at that time that, “If we can find a new cell design, and better soil conditions somewhere, we can build a more cost-effective cell.”
During the same COW meeting, Warden Fuller indicated that council wanted work to continue on finding such a solution.
“The previous notice from the province, about what they wanted – a new cell – would have cost us $800,000 for a hole in the ground,” he said at the time.
In the recent press release, Fuller stated, “Council is acting decisively and is taking the first step in the ongoing process towards the return of C&D service to our residents.”
Removal of the waste, which is scheduled to begin in early January, is expected to be finished by the end of the month. It will be transported to a facility equipped to dispose of it safely.
