Halifax and Vicinity: Engagement Session 1
The Halifax event took place on October 2nd, at the Halifax Forum. We will be returning to the same location for the second engagement event for this region (and final session for this program) on Thursday, October 24.
The Halifax event took place on October 2nd, at the Halifax Forum. We will be returning to the same location for the second engagement event for this region (and final session for this program) on Thursday, October 24.
Event Overview & Key Themes
The bullet points below reflect the key comments, questions and themes we heard at the engagement session. The conversation was structured around the following questions:
- “What do you appreciate most about the way we handle our trash in HRM?”
- “What is most important to you as we evolve our waste system?”
- “What values and principles should guide our future decisions?”
Conversation Summary
“What do you appreciate most about the way we handle our trash in HRM?”
? FEP and WSF stay in place
? Not everything gets separated at source
? HRM is a leader as a whole
? Why fix what is not broken
? World class waste facility – NS is not always so ahead
? Community process
? Proud of the state of the art system
? HRM doesn’t seem to be listening – Is the respect still there?
? Where is the Dillon report?
? Community protection
? Community driven process
? Can’t take the FEP out and have the system still work
“What is most important to you as we evolve our waste system?”
? GHG unintended? It is intended
? We need reality to the facts being brought forward
? WSF and FEP keep the community safe – helps us meet our diversion goals
? What about reducing waste?
? Lack of education about sorting
? We should go above and beyond
? We need another gatekeeper if people don’t comply. FEP is a double check
? No food waste to landfill
? Go to zero waste
? Source separation
? Reduce bag limits? People will get bigger bags
? Environment priority
? Add protection, not take it away
? Education - source separation at home, apartments and condos
? FEP and WSF are the best protection
? Landfill without a condom
? Most important environmental protection – Lakes – they affect us all
? Keep the system the way it is
“What values and principles should guide our future decisions?”
*Please note that the below is transcribed directly from post-it notes collected at the engagement session.
Honor the Contract
? Honor the contracts
? Honor contracts - Respect the agreements
? You should honor the agreement to close Otter Lake
? Don’t make promises you can’t keep
? Keep promise to community
? Honor contracts with host community
? Honor your commitments to the contract and the host community
? Honor the contract
? Honor commitment including CSE strategy
? Honor the contract with community
? Keep your word
? Keep the trust of the people by honoring your word
? Honor commitment
? Honor the contracts and agreements
? Keeping your word – to the community, no manipulations/bribes/ buy outs
? Honor the contract
? Honor your commitments
Education, Source Separation and Diversion
? Source separation
? Source separation and education
? Reduction and source separation, education
? More diversion, more education, more enforcement= less waste
? Educate the public - homeowners, businesses, apartments, condos
? Improving source separation which will reduce what ends up at Otter Lake. There by reducing what ends up at Otter Lake we reduce cost and the number of employees
? Source separation needs to be promoted and marketed to the residents (commercial, restaurants, elementary schools, apartments) Focus on education.
? More educational resources
Environmental Protection
? Commitment to environment
? Environment commitments
? Environment
? Environmental protection – protect environment, keep FEP and WSF till 2023 and close the landfill
? Environmental protection of all systems
Community Protection
? Community commitment 2023 closure focus on new options
? Respect community
? Keep commitment to community
? Treat Otter Lake community with dignity. We should be celebrating this community
? Our community is priceless
Integrity
? More truthfulness and facts instead of spin
? Openness, collaboration, sharing factual info
? Listening would be a great start
? No manipulation, speak truth
Leave Otter Lake Alone
? Leave the landfill and Otter Lake alone
? Leave the system alone
Keep the FEP and WSF
? Safeguarding our WSF and FEP
Get on with site selection
? Start process for another landfill
Consultation has concluded
