The Yukon government has unveiled a What We Heard report following consultations about waste transfer stations with residents in the Braeburn, Keno City, Johnson’s Crossing and Silver City areas.
Participants expressed concerns about the perceived inconvenience and environmental impact of potential changes to transfer stations, the government said Tuesday.
Those include risks related to wildlife management, higher facility usage, travel costs, illegal dumping, wildfires, greenhouse gas emissions and effects on local businesses. Members of the public also highlighted the importance of recycling.
In late 2012, the government and the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC) formed a working group to address solid waste issues. That resulted in the 2013 Solid Waste Working Group Findings Report that emphasized the need for standardized, financially sustainable waste disposal services.
The plans have involved closing down some smaller landfills around the territory while gating others and charging user fees to access them.
In 2015, another AYC working group produced a report released in 2016, which proposed a transition to a more sustainable, integrated waste management system for long-term municipal sustainability.
The 2017 Ministerial Committee on Solid Waste reviewed the territory’s waste management system and offered recommendations to the minister of Community Services, which were endorsed by the government in 2019.
The engagements involving the communities previously mentioned involved eight public meetings held between July and November 2023, and focused on modernizing waste disposal options. Government staff also engaged with First Nations to better understand and address their concerns. The government is reviewing all the feedback.
Next, it will assess the proposed service changes, weighing community needs and environmental considerations, among other factors.
“Our goal is to create a sustainable and accessible system of waste disposal for all Yukoners that considers the future generation of Yukoners,” said Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn. “I appreciate everyone who gave their time to attend sessions and provide feedback.”
The What We Heard report is available at yukon.ca/en/what-we-heard-household-waste-disposal-options-braeburn-johnsons-crossing-keno-and-silver-city.
