Solid Waste Management

Our compliance program focuses on recent or previous inspections/audits to identify non-compliance or recommendations. We will confirm as to why the non-compliance/recommendations remain unresolved, and identify the necessary steps required to satisfy the non-compliance. Our approach will provide actual steps to address the compliance/recommendations, along with appropriate timelines, and work on behalf of the community with the regulator to ensure the non-compliance/recommendations have been addressed achieving compliance. For communities that do not have the time or resources to address the non-compliance, FFEC will assemble the required information, submit it to the regulator, and develop a plan that will help the community collect the required information that will be submitted annually to the regulator as part of the annual report.

Our designs are not cookie cutter designs, they are unique and consider the available space such as site topography, surrounding land use, possible receptors, and needs of the community while staying within budget. The landfill cell design incorporates disposal capacity satisfying our client’s needs to allow for long-term capital planning and sustained operation maximizing the life of the cell. The transfer station household waste design capacity will identify the size and appropriate number of bins required to minimize tipping fees and transportation costs while disposing of waste at an approved waste disposal facility. Waste diversion/recycling will incorporate waste streams the client sees as necessary to manage which FFEC will find solutions that properly manage waste for recycling or repurposing while reducing overall disposal costs. In circumstances where regionalization of a waste management is possible, FFEC will work with surrounding communities to identify a regionalized approach that works for everyone, while managing waste effectively while protecting the environment.

FFEC will complete an operational assessment specific to our client’s needs that may include the complete operation including collection or specific components of the waste management system. If specific components such as collection, disposal, diversion/recycling or regionalization are required we will address them accordingly. Landfill and transfer station collection and disposal present different operational challenges requiring site specific assessment that consider final disposal location, equipment availability, tipping fees, membership fees, waste generation volumes, diversion rates and community’s ability to provide services opposed to third-party providers. Consideration is given to the client’s available resources which may limit their ability to offer specific services, and elect to consider third-party based on cost comparison. The assessment provides options which are in the best interest of the community, allowing the community to grow while remaining fiscally responsible.

Our customized operator training will compromise of theoretical training as well as site specific training. The training will be delivered in two phases; first is the classroom or virtually, and the second stage will be in the field - onsite. The theoretical portion will teach about waste management and latest practices for managing waste properly within the community by individuals within the community, and how the operator manages waste once it makes its way to the facility. The theoretical component at the facility will be specific to the waste managed at the site and satisfying the Permit to Operate requirements. Phase two, will focus on applying the information learned in phase one, and making operational changes where required. If the facility has an Operations Plan, the training will verify the plan addresses all operational activities appropriately, and if not, the Operations Plan will be updated.

FFEC provides customized Operation Plans that are specific to your operation, providing the operator a tool for addressing any issue that arises at the landfill or transfer station. The Operation Plan will satisfy Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment’s permit requirement to have an Operation Plan, moreso this will be a tool which can be referenced at any time directing staff on tasks that must be completed on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis and will be helpful in preparing the annual report. Emergency Response Plans (ERP) are customized to assist staff should an emergency arise at your facility and will satisfy the Ministry’s permit requirement. The ERP, is a systematic approach to managing a series of emergency situations that may be encountered at the landfill or transfer station throughout the life of the facility.

Feasibility studies are completed prior to construction, providing the owner the needed information required in order to financially commit to a project which typically includes design, construction, commissioning and operation. We will complete a feasibility study to assess waste management options followed by recommendations for the most feasible waste management system while considering scope of work, budget and schedule. Waste audits are useful in providing the needed information for incorporating waste diversion components into waste management systems. The waste audit will provide a waste composition of the overall waste from within the community allowing for efficient design of waste diversion while reducing unnecessary costs. The audit can provide useful information used in the diversion program resulting in a decrease in overall operation and maintenance costs.

We complete our Environmental Site Assessments to either meet the Canadian Standards Associate PhIESA (Z768-01) or PhIIESA (Z769-00) , or Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment’s Site Assessment Code Chapter B.1.2, and the Corrective Action Plan Code Chapter B.1.3. Phase I assessments will be conducted as desktop studies, with documentation demonstrating potential for underground tanks, or environmental impacts due to spills or waste disposal followed by onsite verification. Phase II ESAs are intrusive investigations, and if being completed as a waste disposal ground permit requirement, the assessment will be in accordance with Chapter B.1.2. Should contamination be confirmed and further delineation be required, a Phase III ESA will be conducted to further characterize the site. Our Phase II ESAs are typically followed by completing a Corrective Action Plan in accordance with Chapter B.1.3, which identifies corrective measures to address the impacts identified in the Phase II. The CAP will provide results based objectives that are reasonable and prudent while establishing endpoints that comply with Endpoint Selection Standards. Other measures may include physical and administrative controls that appropriately mitigate impact, however shall be based on risk.

Our Landfill Decommissioning and Reclamation Plans meet the requirements identified in the ministry’s guidance document. FFEC will prepare and submit a D&R Plan that includes owners contact information, description of communities and industries served, quantity and description of waste disposed of over the life of the facility, years of operation, remaining life, description of the physical closure of the landfill, site plan drawing/s, final detailed design drawings, aerial survey and drawings prior to decommissioning, post closure environmental monitoring, inspection and monitoring frequency and details, and cost estimate for work. If the plan is requested by the ministry prior to landfill closure while the site is still operational, FFEC will prepare the plan at the point in time, and will be required to update the plan immediately preceding decommissioning. The updated plan will require ministry approval, which FFEC would update and submit while requesting an approval to construct.

We conduct annual groundwater and surface water monitoring in accordance with the Permit to Operate or approved monitoring program and best management practices satisfying the Permit to Operate. The monitoring will be completed in accordance with the required frequency (annual or semi-annual) for the approved analytes, which will be assembled in a comprehensive report that includes site description, methodology, guidelines, results, QA/QC Results, discussion, recommendations, figures, tables, graphs, photographs, and laboratory certificate of analysis. The report provides comparison between current and historical results as well as trend analysis and interpretation of the results confirming an environmental impact associated with landfilling or indicating a low probability of impact based on laboratory results.

As part of other projects or when hired for the specific project, our clients have requested our assistance addressing concerns identified by the regulator which they have either no resolution on their own or simply prefer a knowledgeable representative to address those identified concerns with the regulator. We have acted on behalf of our clients to resolve outstanding issues by either working toward a resolution satisfying the ministry’s request or completing the outstanding work and submitting it to the ministry for review and approval. Our clients have found it beneficial to have us as a direct point of contact when seeking the desired outcome as we have a common understanding when communicating with the ministry.

FFEC has successfully secured Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program funding and will work on behalf of our clients to either seek funding opportunities, or complete funding applications and provide supplemental information in support of the application such as the detailed cost analysis, duty to consult documentation and cost estimates in the form of proposals. At the request of our client we will work to secure any potential funding opportunities to help secure the necessary funds required to replace or upgrade existing infrastructure. As part of completing any funding application, FFEC will work with government officials or the funding agent on behalf of their client as a direct point of contact to ensure eligibility and timelines are satisfied.