Most residents of Newfoundland and Labrador will finally be using modern waste management systems in 2012, a year that will also see several amendments to help smooth the way for future implementation of the decade-old waste strategy, the government says.

 While the province estimates that the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Strategy will not be fully implemented until 2020, it is well on its way to reaching its original goal of reducing landfill waste by 50 per cent and cutting its waste sites by 80 per cent.

Implementation of the provincial waste strategy began in 2007.

On June 7, 2012 in the House of Assembly, Municipal Affairs Minister Kevin O’Brien introduced a revamped Regional Service Boards Act (Bill 36) and amendments to Bill 35, the Municipal Affairs Act, both of which will impact the rollout of the waste strategy.

Officials indicate that the boards will operate in the eastern, central and northern peninsula areas of the province. The boards direct areas such as water supply, sewage disposal and solid waste disposal. As the implementation of the strategy continues to move across Newfoundland and Labrador, additional regional service boards are expected to be created to correspond with established waste management regions, officials say.

“The vast majority of our municipal leaders volunteer their time and we are cognizant of their contribution and the need for consistency in how they operate,” Minister O’Brien said in a release to news media. “These amendments will provide that consistency while allowing regional service boards the proper legislative authority to advance the Provincial Waste Management Strategy.”

Specifically, Bill 36 will:

• establish sub-regions in a region in order to define the geographical areas from which board members will be drawn;

• appoint board members for four years, which is consistent with the terms of municipal councillors;

• be consistent with the administrative provisions of the Municipalities Act, 1999, regarding board vacancies, conflict of interest, privileged meetings, rules of procedure, voting, committees and finance provisions;

• expand the authority of boards to include the operation of solid waste management systems;

• clarify the charging of user fees.