MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission's (MVRWMC) chief administrative officer recently gave county council an update on the organization it is a member of.
Michael Wuetherick appeared as a delegation at the recent council meeting.
His information included updates on operating and financial trends, landfill airspace utilization forecasts, recycling overview, and the 2023 audit.
Made up of representatives from six municipalities in the district, the commission coordinates the management and disposal of solid waste within Mountain View County and its other member municipalities.
It currently operates the regional landfill site and the transfer station near Didsbury, as well as transfer stations near Sundre and in Water Valley.
It is funded from tipping fees and municipal requisitions.
Total tonnage received has stabilized at about 25,000 tonnes per year, he said.
Commercial tonnage now accounts for between 60 and 65 per cent of total commission revenues, with municipal/transfer station revenue accounting for between 30 and 35 per cent of total revenue.
“We are debt free and reserves are growing,” he said. “The commission has re-established financial stability. We are in a good position now."
The accumulated surplus has increased by $2.74 million since 2017, and total debt has decreased by $1.9 million since peaking in 2016, he said.
Cumulative capital investment of $6.9 million has been made since 2016, including a new shredder in 2022 and a new packer in 2021.
“Our goal financially and operationally is to maintain this level of market share,” he said.
The 2024 budget calls for revenues of $2.6 million, down from $2.77 million in 2023, and total expenses of $3.03 million, up from $2.92 million in 2023.
Total design airspace at the landfill is 1,300,000 m3, with the remaining airspace as of Dec. 31 is 654,146 m3.
“We try to optimize the airspace as much as we can,” he said.
The current airspace end-of-life is now 2048-2052.
“Investment in technology (including new packer) and improved operations planning has increased landfill life by more than 12 years,” he said.
Regarding recycling, he noted the commission closed its eight recycling centres in August 2023.
“Services may be re-started pending funding from the provincial roll-out of the extended producer responsibility program (EPR) with April 2025 targeted roll-out for depots in Water Valley, Sundre and Didsbury.”
Metal is recycled and currently generates a small revenue stream based on strong metal prices, he said.
Collection of chemicals, paints, anti-freeze, used oil will continue regardless of the EPR outcome, he said.
“It is important to keep those chemicals out of the water table and out of the landfill,” he said.
Council accepted the commission presentation as information, with no further action to be taken.
