OLDS — Solid waste transfer stations are no longer allowed in Olds.
Town council passed a bylaw to that effect last month.
Solid waste transfer stations are places where people can drop off solid waste such as yard waste, demolition materials, and household refuse.
That waste is then transported to landfills, recycling centers, and other disposal sites.
A solid waste transfer station used to be located within the town, but operations director Scott Chant confirmed it is no longer in use.
“Bylaw 2020-12 proposes to remove solid waste transfer stations from the list of allowable uses in the light industrial I1 and heavy industrial I2 districts,” Natasha Wright of Parkland Planning services said during an appearance before council.
“It also proposes to amend the definition of public and quasi public places to explicitly exclude solid waste transfer stations from the definition.
“This is in order to prevent any more solid waste transfer stations from being developed in Olds. By removing it from the list of allowable uses in the industrial districts a development permit can’t be obtained for the use because it’s not listed.
“And there is a clause within the administrative section of the land use bylaw that does state that if a use isn’t listed, a development permit can’t be obtained for it."
Wright noted the bylaw was relayed to potential stakeholders but ATCO Pipelines, TC Energy and Mountain View County had no comment on it.
Also, a public hearing was held on the bylaw but no one spoke against it.
“It’s my understanding that there would be no transfer station anywhere within the town of Olds limits going forward. That’s my interpretation of this and I think I’m correct in that,” Coun. Mary Anne Overwater said.
“Yes, that is correct. That's what this bylaw will do,” Wright replied.
Council voted unanimously to approve the bylaw.
