Environmental Specialist Scott Morash, of Morash Environmental Consulting Services, Lakelands, N.S., has been selected by the Community Monitoring Committee (CMC) to serve as its new part-time environmental consultant.
The new hire follows a decision at the last CMC meeting, Aug.31, to implement a monitoring program at the Otter Lake Landfill, in collaboration with HRM, the owner of the landfill, and Mirror Nova Scotia, the operator. A $3,000 budget has been approved by the CMC for the initiative, which Mr. Morash will lead.
CMC Chair Linda MacKay said, “Mr. Morash is well qualified for the position with 30 years experience as an inspector specialist in the Bedford office of Nova Scotia Environment. Not only is he familiar with the department’s personnel and practices, but he is well versed with the Otter Lake Landfill operation, provincial solid waste regulations and the municipality’s Solid Waste Management Strategy.”
He was acting district manager with the Nova Scotia Department of Environment in 2015 when approval for Otter Lake’s operations was amended. His extensive experience will enable him to provide technical advice on the approval of landfill design and the concept of “acceptable waste” cited in the 1999 agreement that created the CMC. Mr. Morash retired from the provincial department in 2019.
A new monitoring program was deemed necessary by the CMC to help protect area residential and business interests. A recent provincial decision, subject to some caveats, will essentially allow HRM and Mirror Nova Scotia to proceed with a plan to turn the Otter Lake Landfill into a truck and dump operation.
Once the province’s conditions for approval are fulfilled, HRM and Mirror Nova Scotia will be allowed to end the front end processing and waste stabilization facility (FEP/WSF) operations at the landfill.
The equipment has enabled the removal of waste paper, hazardous and organic waste from residential garbage when it arrives at Otter Lake. The organic material has been stabilized in the waste processing facility so that it can be safely buried at the site, while the other extracted products have been diverted from the landfill. These practices have been credited with eliminating the odour, flying paper debris and the rodent and scavenger bird problems that plague other landfills in the province.
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