Landfill decommissioning work continues in Melfort

“We expect construction of the new cell to be complete by September 2025, followed by a commissioning period,” said Cipywnyk. “Once the site is commissioned, waste can begin to be deposited in the new cell – the exact date will be determined when the new cell is closer to completion.”

Cipywnyk said the City of Melfort has applied to the Ministry of Environment for a permit to begin the process of closing the existing landfill once the new cell is operational. They have also posted a tender to hire a contractor to complete that work, and the goal is to start decommissioning the existing landfill later this fall. She said they hope to have the full decommissioning completed by August 2026.

There have been some challenges associated with a project this extensive. Cipywnyk said the weather has had an impact on the site conditions and progress, with the contractor having to deal with both dry and wet weather.

“One of the other factors we have had to consider is how we maintain operations for the site with minimal impact to residents, while accommodating construction,” said Cipywnyk. “We are fortunate to have a large site where the activities can be spread out, but consistent communication between the contractor and city personnel has helped avoid any major conflicts and ensure the safety of everyone onsite.”

Many municipalities across Saskatchewan have been busy decommissioning or altering their landfill upon orders from the provincial government. Cipywnyk said Melfort was told by the Ministry of Environment following a routine inspection in 2023 that the existing site was reaching the end of its life.

The lack of containment measures like engineered liner, gas management, and leachate management systems were observed in older landfill sites, including Melfort’s.

“Due to the lack of these containment measures, old landfills pose a higher risk of contaminating soil, surface water, and groundwater with pollutants from decomposing waste,” Cipywnyk explained. “As a result, our existing site needs to be properly decommissioned after we stop using it to prevent environmental harm and to comply with current regulations.”

She said the City of Melfort was also aware that the existing landfill was approaching maximum capacity and didn’t meet the new standards and had already applied for an Investing in Canada Infrastructure (ICIP) grant in 2021 to help offset the decommissioning costs. The grant was received with funding from both the federal and provincial governments, and arrangements were being made to decommission the existing cell.

Customers will not experience any major changes or service interruptions while the new cell is under construction, according to Cipywnyk. The City will work with site personnel to transition operations to the new location once it opens. Any changes will be communicated by the scale house attendant and on-site signage, and the City’s website and social media pages.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Melfort’s residents and customers of the landfill for their patience and understanding during this project,” Cipywnyk said. “We appreciate everyone’s support as we implement best practices for waste management at our site.”

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

by Cam Lee

Landfill decommissioning work continues in Melfort

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