Iqaluit's new landfill and waste transfer station still have no timeline for completion, seven years after funding for the project was announced, according to the City of Iqaluit.
The $35-million project was initially greenlit by the in 2018 to replace the existing landfill, which was expected to reach capacity by 2023, according to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB). The federal government contributed more than $26.2 million while city's share was close to $8.7 million, a federal government news release from July 20, 2018 states.
All the licences, permits and authorizations for the landfill were issued by 2023, .
One Iqaluit resident, who picks up garbage around the city while walking his dog, said he hasn't seen construction vehicles at the waste transfer station in months. Derek Allerton said he wants the city to get the station operational to start handling Iqaluit's garbage and recycling needs.
"Why they don't have a plan in place to make it operational now doesn't seem to make sense to me," Allerton said.
When Nunavut News asked why the project is years behind schedule, City of Iqaluit spokesperson Dominik Gagne replied that the completion would be announced in the near future.
The waste transfer station is one kilometre north of the airport, while the new landfill will be six kilometres northwest of the city.
Although the start date for operations of the new landfill and waste transfer station remains unknown, Iqaluit is facing a proliferation of beer cans on its streets.
The city's only beer can recycling depot closed on July 12, and the GN hasn't replaced the facility, removing the deposit refund incentive for recycling the aluminum.
The Department of Community Services did not respond to Nunavut News about the status of replacing the depot.
Nunavut stopped accepting glass and plastic alcohol containers for deposit refunds back in 2021.
A city spokesperson said the new waste transfer station would take beverage containers, but recycling responsibilities are the jurisdiction of the GN.
