Environment and Energy Minister Jamie Ballem has announced a moratorium of up to one year on new construction and demolition (C&D) disposal sites.
Minister Ballem said the time will be used to conduct a comprehensive review of the Environmental Protection Act Waste Resource Management Regulations which govern C&D disposal sites.
"Since these regulations came into effect in 2002, they have helped ensure that construction and demolition debris is disposed of in a manner that protects our water, soil and air quality in Prince Edward Island," said Minister Ballem. "However, Islanders have expressed concerns about certain aspects of the regulations, so Government felt it was time to look at what we've learned in the initial operation of C&D sites and give careful consideration to where improvements can be made."
As part of the review, Minister Ballem said he will ask staff of Island Waste Management Corporation (IWMC) and the Department of Environment and Energy to:
- examine the regulations to ensure that they provide adequate protection to both the environment and public interest;
- study the operation and management of C&D sites; and
- identify the number of C&D disposal sites required to service the PEI population and potential locations of future sites, if required.
The Waste Resource Management Regulations require C&D sites to meet strict design and operational requirements before they are approved, and owners must apply annually to the Department of Environment and Energy for an operating permit. These sites may be used only for disposal of construction and demolition debris which the regulations define as materials that are inert and not hazardous. That includes soil, asphalt, brick, mortar, drywall, plaster, cellulose, fibreglass fibres, gyproc, and lumber and wood that is not chemically treated.
Since 2002, four C&D sites have been approved: Kings County Construction Limited, Brudenell; Maintenance Services Limited, Hazelbrook; Waugh's Construction Ltd., Kelvin Grove; and East Prince Waste Management Facility, Wellington Centre. Conditional permits have been issued for two additional sites: Toomb's Plumbing & Heating Ltd. in St. Ann's, and G&P Trucking and Construction Ltd. in St. Peter's. These companies are in the final stages of fulfilling the requirements of the conditional permit and will not be affected by the moratorium.