Litter Controll at Lethbridge Waste & Recycling Centre

This landfill is located in southern Alberta and is in an area that is subjected to frequent windy conditions.  The City has the distinction of being the 2nd most windiest City in Canada.   Because of historical issues with litter problems at the landfill, the City and the site operators have implemented a comprehensive litter management program.  This is a brief summary of that program. 

Prevent Litter From Customer Vehicles

A secure load policy has been implemented and a surcharge is applied for all loads that are not enclosed, covered with a tarp, or firmly secured.  The surcharge rate is $20/load for loads under 1 tonne, or $40/load for loads over 1 tonne.  

Haulers may also be subject to fines for transporting unsecured loads and causing litter along public highways.

Monitoring & Litter Collection

Regular monitoring is conducted and the site operators retrieve litter along roads, ditches, and nearby irrigation canals. Depending on the road, this retrieval occurs daily to weekly. 

Fence lines around the landfill are monitored and litter is retrieved to keep the site clean. 

Litter is collected from private property adjacent to the landfill site and along road ways with access permission from the land owner.  

Illegal Dumping

To prevent illegal dumping, the City offers a large item service to residents, and provides a free Saturday disposal program. The City conducts regular monitoring for illegal dumping and works with enforcement agencies. 

Litter Controls

A combination of techniques are used at the landfill to prevent litter from occurring and to prevent litter from escaping.  

Portable wind screen fences to shelter the working face and catch fences are used downwind to catch any blowing litter.  The working face is kept as small as possible to minimize exposure of waste to wind.  

An 8 meter tall 'primary' entrapment fence is placed at the edge of the landfill operations, and a 12 meter tall 'secondary' entrapment fence is placed downwind (east side) of the landfill. 

The landfill operations are closed when winds exceed limits set out under the Environmental Approval.  Walking floor transfer trailers are prohibited from unloading when wind gust exceed 60 km/hr, and all loads are prohibited when wind gusts exceed 70 km/hr. 

Transfer Station & Baler

To address the issues with collection systems because the landfill is shut down high wind conditions, the City has constructed a transfer station with a baler.  The waste bales are 'wrapped' and when placed at the landfill, they are not a source of blowing litter.  

Other Technologies

The City and the site operators continue to investigate other technologies to add to the existing litter controls.  For example, a trial for application of a spray on mulch alternative daily cover was used.