Otter Lake landfill modified changes approved by Halifax council

Halifax regional council has approved modified proposals for the Otter Lake landfill after months of consultations with residents who live nearby.

The push to overhaul the Halifax Regional Municipality's garbage system began almost a year ago, but the original recommended changes for the landfill upset local residents.

So, a community monitoring committee and staff with the municipality spent months discussing the plans.

Staff backed away from the suggestion to eliminate the sorting facility, agreeing instead to further talks and studies.

It's a move that pleases Coun. Reg Rankin.

"We've come a long way and I thank council. Continue to study it? I think that's the right of staff," he said.

The proposal to increase the height of the landfill by 15 meters will go ahead, pending a detailed engineering study.

The idea that created the most debate is the elimination of the rule banning the export of commercial waste. Halifax Regional Municipality staff have said it could reduce the amount of waste going to Otter Lake by 50 per cent.

Coun. Jennifer Watts still has questions about the idea.

"Does this increase or decrease overall environmental impact?" she asked.

Other councillors pointed out that handling waste locally is a founding principle of Halifax's modern garbage system. The city spent more than $1 million taking garbage haulers to court to defend the bylaw banning garbage exports.

Halifax regional council did agree to send the recommendation to a public hearing so the wider community could comment and not just members of the Investment Property Owners Association of Nova Scotia and garbage haulers.

No date has been set for the hearing, but staff say it could take place in the near future.

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