By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Innovative project to reduce Sylvan Lake landfill waste still under negotiations

Jul 19, 2018 | 4:58 PM

Negotiations between the Town of Sylvan Lake and an Alberta-based waste conversion company have taken a positive turn.

rdnewsNOW reported in March that the Town was looking at entering into an agreement with Fogdog Energy to construct a facility which would convert 98 per cent of municipal waste into fluff. Currently, only 29 per cent of waste in Sylvan Lake is diverted from the landfill.

The Town says Fogdog has now agreed to provide the up-front costs, which amount to $400,000, plus another $40,000 for nearby street repairs. If the company were to meet certain standards, the Town would pay them back 10 per cent of the costs annually. The current proposal calls for a 10-year term.

“If we can get to an agreement, one that protects Sylvan Lakers as well as their business interests and our interests in terms of operational needs, then we will proceed,” says Joanne Gaudet, Communications Officer. “Of course council has the final say, so if not, then we’re no worse for wear.”

Earlier this year, Sylvan Lake had automated collection – much like in Red Deer — ready to roll out, but that was put on hold when the prospect of partnering with Fogdog came about.

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In June, two Town staff members travelled to Italy where the manufacturer of the technology Fogdog is proposing to install is located.

The pair observed a demo of a much smaller-scale machine, but was reportedly impressed, Gaudet states. They were then supposed to meet with officials in the community of Genoa where this tech was being used to convert medical waste, but that meeting was cancelled because the facility had recently closed.

Gaudet, who notes the trip cost $8300, says the facility in Genoa was shut down because it was too close to residential. A Skype meeting is being scheduled between Sylvan Lake staff and officials from Genoa to discuss the full reasoning behind that decision.

In a report to council, it’s stated that the president of Ompeco (the manufacturer) told Syvlan staff that there is nowhere in the world that this technology is being used to the scale that’s being proposed for the central Alberta community of just under 15,000 people.

“We’re doing as much due diligence as possible. We don’t want to put public money at risk,” says Gaudet, who estimates a final decision by council on Fogdog’s proposal could come by September.

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