Big and expensive: Auditors to investigate Central Waste Management

Auditors have been asked to have to look at what's happening at the Central Waste Management facility in Norris Arm North.

Representatives of the Department of Municipal Affairs met with town leadersand the business community earlier this year, and ordered the audit.

Grand Falls-Windsor Deputy Mayor Darren Finn saidhis council has raised concerns about the escalating costs of using the facility since November 2016.

"In Central, the cost per tonne for waste today is $136 a tonne versus $67 a tonne in eastern regions and $59 a tonne in the western region, so we're 100 per cent more in cost than other regions," he said.

Finn said this discrepancy is likely caused by overcapacity at the Norris Arm North plant the operation is much larger than the current demand.

In addition to the rising fees, he is also worried about the administration, operating proceduresand depletion of capital reserves.

"There is a board [of directors]and they have a mandate from the province to deliver their waste management strategy in the central region," he said. "The result is this higher cost. Other regions of the province are conducting themselves differently."

Hopes for total review

Finn hopes the audit will trigger a total review of waste management in the province.

"I think if all the province was on board with the same waste management practices for recycling, maybe moving into the composting area, how we sort. I think there maybe [would be] some synergies in terms of using this facility to its full potential."

Finn said that the Norris ArmNorth facility has the capacity to handle waste management for most of the province. He's frustrated that it processes low volumes of waste and costs so much money.

"There must be ways to reduce the cost," he said. "When we've raised these concerns, we've only received replies from the board about why things are the way they are. They have never seemed interested in any of our recommendations."

The audit will also look into the possibility of any fraudulent activity at the facility, something Finn said seems to be standard practicefor an audit.

"We don't suspect anything going on there," he said. "There is nothing in our minds from that perspective."

Waste collection practices are not subject to the audit which is expected to be concluded by October 31.