SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - People anxious to start salvaging at the dump will have to wait a few more weeks as the new sorting system is still under construction.

Kyle Bessette emptied a truckload of wood and cardboard at the dump on Oct. 23. - Elizabeth McMillan/NNSL Photo

"There was a few delays in construction of the retaining wall," said Chris Greencorn, manager for public works and engineering.

"It'd be hard to pinpoint because the snow is down ... it'll be the next couple of weeks," he said. "We've been trying to hammer it out as quickly as possible, we just want to make it safe."

After the fire at the Yellowknife dump Sept. 5, Carl Bird, director of corporate services with the city said the salvaging area would be closed for a month to six weeks.

Greencorn said the city needed clarification about some material from the manufacturers but construction is now in process.

He said the new system is being built behind the bailing facility. Three sections will be on a two-week rotation. People with goods they want salvaged can drop off material in one cell. Another will be open for people looking to pick material up.

The third will be used when switching between the other two cells.

"At the end of two weeks, whatever isn't salvaged will be taken to the main landfill," said Greencorn.

"There won't be an open area where people will be ripping through garbage bags."

He added that he thought the new system would be safer.

People now have to throw garbage into a dumpster which is located almost a meter from the edge of an embankment, next to the former salvaging area. The drop-off area is level with the top of the dumpsters.

Walt Humphreys, an avid salvager, said several weeks for a new facility isn't soon enough. He said the delay will mean an extra month when salvageable material is going to waste because it's getting tossed into a dumpster.

He called the current set-up is a safety hazard for people dropping off material.

"If you slipped you'd be in real trouble. It's a dangerous situation," Humphreys said. "When they first did it (set the drop-off area up), it was wet and slippery. Now it's icy. If you slip, you're either going to go into that bin or get yourself wedged between the bank and the bin."

City councillor Paul Falvo said residents had expressed concern to him and he said it was something the city should fix as soon as possible.

"We shouldn't be waiting for someone to fall in," he said. "We shouldn't leave a metre-long gap and it shouldn't take a resident to bring it to our attention."

Some dump-goers didn't seem concerned with the set up.

"You have to watch yourself, I guess," said Kyle Bessette, as he hoisted wood and cardboard into the bins from the back of a truck.

Darrill Letemplier said he preferred the dumpsters to a general salvage area because he didn't have to work around people.

"It's not too bad. From a construction (business) point of view, you come up here and you don't have to wait," he said.