by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 08/97) - Waste management watchers say the city's policy on tipping fees is being applied arbitrarily.

Mayoral candidate and waste management activist Matthew Grogono noted Tuaro Dairy was not charged a tipping fee when it dumped truckloads of manure at the landfill this summer.

The point arose Monday evening, at the annual review of the city's new solid waste management policy.

Public works director Neil Jamieson confirmed that all but a small quantity of the manure dumped by Tuaro was collected by residents for use as fertilizer.

"So if someone brings in one ton truck load of wood, will they be charged a tipping fee?" asked Grogono.

"Yes," replied senior administrator Doug Lagore.

"And if the wood is recycled would they be reimbursed?," asked Grogono.

"No," said Lagore. "That was a decision of administration (to spare Tuaro the tipping fee) and I have nothing further to say on it."

Lagore later corrected himself and said it was council's decision.

Ald. Trevor Kasteel suggested dump capacity would be increased if the same criteria applied to Tuaro were applied generally.

"If it is recyclable, there should be no tipping fee, to encourage recycling," said Kasteel.

Walt Humphries, a XXXYellowknifer columnist and long time dump watcher, said the city could be doing more to divert waste currently being buried at the dump.

He said during a visit to the dump several days before the meeting, he counted 100 doors, two and a half truck loads of asphalt and several truck loads of soil and compost.

"There's three things that could have been used," said Humphries, suggesting areas should be set aside for such items so they do not get bulldozed with the rest of the garbage.

"If a person wanted to (save salvageable items) it's not hard to do," he said. "As far as I can see, that's not happening."

Humphries made the same point more than a year ago at a meeting to formulate the city's waste management policy.

At that time he pointed out cardboard and lumber make up 50 per cent of materials deposited at the dump.