Dear Editor,
We have heard and seen much propaganda from BFI over the past several months none of which holds any water!
Currently the Orica explosives plant is situated on land next to this proposed site. Dumps and explosives are not compatible due to issues with ground disturbance from heavy trucks and equipment working. There would also be security problems with people coming and going from the dump site. Dumps are notorious for having fires and the possibility of a fire occurring would have catastrophic consequences. Orica currently provides 10 full time jobs to people living in the Blackie area which has also resulted in many local spin off jobs. Orica employees have children who attend Blackie School and they also utilize many other services in the community. Any token jobs created in Blackie by this proposed landfill if approved, would ultimately be negative numbers should Orica be forced to close.
This proposed 960-acre dump site would have the distinction of being the largest operational landfill in North America. There have been mega landfills in the past and the terrible environmental problems associated with them are well documented online. The practice of burying garbage is old school technology and has no business in today’s society. Further advanced countries have gone away from this unsustainable practice for example Switzerland. Here they incinerate garbage which generates millions in electricity each year. There are Canadian companies who have also implemented this technology when dealing with their waste. An example is Tolko Industries of Armstrong, BC where they burnt waste in old beehive burners which caused air quality problems. Tolko was ordered to reduce emissions so a co-gen plant was built. This plant now generates millions of dollars in electricity each year while preserving air quality.
No matter what the tax benefits for the MD of Foothills are the vast majority of people are against this dump for many valid reasons. We respectfully request that the MD of Foothills promptly deny BFI’s application for a landfill so that this community is able to get on with living. BFI has painted a very pretty picture calling this proposed site the Prairie Sky Resource Centre, but the fact is you don’t require 960 acres for a recycle and compost facility.
With all the negative publicity Alberta has received regarding its environmental policies isn’t it about time we implement sustainable and environmentally friendly practices?
C.S. Boe
Blackie
