Clearview mayor muses on Site 42

Site 42 next dump on County’s list
By Laurie Watt Collingwood Connection Oct 09, 2009
So what comes after Site 41? Site 42, of course.
And Site 42 has some of the same history as the notorious North Simcoe landfill that Simcoe County councillors finally buried a few weeks ago.
Like Site 41, Site 42 is the location chosen by lower-tier municipalities, and once the county took over waste management in the early 1990s, its development became a county responsibility.
But thanks to Site 41, Site 42 could be put on hold – for a while anyway — as Simcoe County begins work on a waste management strategy.
“It’s at least a year-long process, although maybe we’ll be able to get it done by next summer, but that depends on the critical decision-making path,” said the county’s environmental services director Rob McCullough. In a committee report to be discussed Wednesday, McCullough noted the county retained Stantec Consulting after having called for proposals. Stantec most recently completed Durham Region’s plan.
The work plan includes a review of various waste management techniques and disposal options, as well as several public input sessions. A draft strategy is to be released in April.
But still in the development process is Site 42, located at the end of the Collingwood airport runway in Clearview Township. “Due process has been done. At this time, it’s an approved site, but there’s no Certificate of Approval,” said Clearview Mayor Ken Ferguson, adding it was the preferred location of seven west county sites.
“It’s right opposite the Nottawasaga dump, on the west side of the road. I’m not a NIMBY, but it’s two miles from my backyard,” the mayor, who has 500 acres on the 33rd Sideroad.
“It’s right at the end of the (airport) runway. It’s close to Wasaga Beach. It’s on the Alliston Aquifer, just like Site 41.”
Ferguson said county council’s Site 41 debates and decision to halt construction show a shift away from depending on garbage dumps as the solution.
“We’re straying away from landfills,” he said. “I look at diversion as priority No. 1, followed by plants to sort and ship waste. “
The county could opt to locate a sorting plant there, which could bring jobs to the area, he said.
“I look at this as an industry with jobs,” he said. “We have to do something better.”