A new transfer station for the Campbell River dump may not be operational until spring.
The Comox Strathcona Solid Waste Management Board considered implementing the transfer station in the fall but now it’s choosing to hold off.
“It appears that the transfer of waste will likely not be necessary until after April or May of 2012 and it may be a gradual process,” said Leigh Carter, general manager of public affairs for the Comox Valley Regional District, which is responsible for both the Comox Valley and Campbell River landfills.
The plan is to transfer Campbell River’s waste to the Pigeon Lake Landfill in Cumberland for a period of one year.
Carter said it’s expected that two to four walking floor trailers of waste will be transferred to Cumberland each day.
The Campbell River Waste Management Centre, more commonly known as the Campbell River landfill, is nearing capacity and is estimated to be completely full roughly six months from now.
After that, it’s expected the transfer station will be functioning so residents can still drop off their garbage at the landfill.
Leigh said the process could go on for less than a year, but either way, the transfer station will have a lifespan of more than 10 years, until a construction project to extend the life of the dump is complete.
“The transfer station facility itself will be used for residential waste drop off after landfill improvement construction is completed, and the transferring of waste to the Comox Valley stops,” Carter said.
The construction project is expected to include a mechanical stabilization of the steep earthern wall along Argonaut Road which may create the capacity needed to add five to seven years of life to the landfill.
Ian Buck, a planner for the city, said in a report to city council that construction of the transfer station, which will begin first, will involve implementing an asphalt laydown area, removal and reconstruction of the existing retaining structure and the construction of a temporary transfer building.
