A County hazardous and electronic waste depot would not compete with charity events: QWS

Quinte Waste Solutions wants the use $28,400 it has already received from Prince Edward County to build a medium-sized hazardous and electronic waste depot.

New regulations, stated Ron Rae, of Quinte Waste Solutions (QWS), in a presentation to council Tuesday night, place greater emphasis on stationary collection (depots) as funding support is moving away from mobile events.

Currently the County receives four mobile events a year. Otherwise, residents travel to Belleville’s large depot.

The site would be provided by the municipality. The balance of the start up costs, said Rae, would be absorbed by QWS.

Councillor Mike Harper received support from council to have a staff report explore the viability of the proposal with specific information about ongoing annual operating costs.

Councillor Phil St.-Jean expressed concern about the new site competing with local service clubs, organizations and businesses that currently host electronic recycling events that raise thousands of dollars in support of charities – such as Home Hardware’s multiple events that support the building of the County’s new hospital.

Rae stated the operation could have options such as not operating the same day as a charity event, or not having e-waste collection at all. Its most important aspect, he noted, was that County residents would not have to drive to Belleville to properly dispose of hazardous waste.

Councillor Janice Maynard noted a large portion of the County’s population, living in Ameliasburgh, would likely continue to use the Belleville depot.

In his presentation, Rae noted the hazardous electronic waste programs in 2021 safely disposed of enough batteries to take the Glenora Ferry 1.6 trips to transport; hazardous liquids to fill 28 larger tanker trucks and flourescent bulbs to span the three runways at Picton airfield 10 times.

A medium depot would contain two shipping containers, containment berms, used oil storage tanks and e-waste bins. It would operate from May to August.

The start-up costs include infrastructure at $50,000; equipment at $34,200 and employee PPE costs of $5,100.

The County and QWS have discussed a depot in the past and funds have already been provided. Rae said QWS would use the pre-existing $28,400 from the County and internalize the remaining start up costs.