Iqaluit (Feb 10/03) - The ash accumulated from 10 years of burning at Iqaluit's landfill site is saving the city valuable resources.

It will make compacting much cheaper than originally planned.

"It was not in a frozen state, it was still composting," explained councillor Stu Kennedy.

"We've had it dug up and now we're using the ash for cover material.

"It's a necessary component of a non-burning operation -- one we had anticipated would require granular material."

In a southern operation, Kennedy said, landfill sites use low-cost cover materials like silt or clay. In Iqaluit, these materials are hard to come by so crushed rock, an expensive non-renewable commodity, was the only option until the ash was discovered.

Kennedy said the ash could last as long as three or four years.

The goals set in the solid waste management strategy are to encourage recycling and reusing, isolate hazardous materials and maximize the life span of the existing landfill area.

A solid waste audit conducted by Trow Consulting between Sept. 16 and 18 showed the following breakdown:

• 35 per cent organic rich waste.
• 34 per cent paper waste.
• 18 per cent plastic.
• 13 per cent glass, metals.

Kennedy said with these numbers the solid waste management committee can foresee how to avert waste from the landfill site.

Kennedy said the most important part of the strategy is a new solid waste management bylaw.

Also, a new tipping fee schedule will be set up by the end of February.

"The fees that are in place don't promote reduction of waste. They don't even cover the costs of landfilling the loads," said Kennedy.

Landfill foreman Darcey Reist said when it comes down to it, money is the issue.

He's been working on the site for almost three years and said although things are getting better, it's happening at a very slow rate.

"If we had the money and the infrastructure, we'd be set for 20 years," said Reist.

The next step for the landfill site, according to Reist, is a shredder. This piece of equipment could shred wood into little chips and washing machines into tiny pieces of scrap.

For now, Reist said, solid waste management in Iqaluit is going in the right direction.

"We're not burning anymore and that makes my life easier. I don't have to worry about pollution or smoke," he said.

The new solid waste management bylaw should be in effect by the end of the year.