Forteau dump overflowing, catching fire, deputy mayor says

The dump in Forteau is reaching a crisis point it's overflowing and frequently catching fire, says the town's deputy mayor.

"It's probably at 99 per cent capacity,' said Jim Robertswho is also part of the Labrador Straits Waste Disposal Committee.

"We see garbage flying around town."

The town is close to the Muskrat Falls construction site, and Roberts saidcontractors are constantly dumping waste into the landfillsometimes up to 70 truckloads a day.

"Some contractors are probably in and out of there 10 times a day with garbage, so we're filling up really quick," said Roberts.

"Before they started to use it we were very close to capacity. And now it just fills up faster and faster and faster."

People are also frequently lighting fires in the dump, said Roberts, which causes toxic smoke to drift into the town. He saidthat there have been times when people have had to leave their house because the smoke has been so bad.

We see garbage flying around town.- Jim Roberts

There is no room to expand the dump, and Roberts said boththe townand Nalcorwill desperately need a new site by spring.

The town hasbeenaskinggovernment for a new landfill for years, and hashad to apply for emergency funding to deal with some of the fires.

While they have yet to see any concrete action, Roberts said the town is now having discussions with government aboutof anew dumpsite near Mary's Harbour, which would serve the entire south coast and the Labrador Straits area.

Roberts said that while he's cautious, he's optimistic there will be a new dump within thenext 12 months.