WESTLOCK – The Town of Westlock is asking residents to share any information they have regarding the old Westlock landfill that was operational from 1940 to 1990.
After being identified as a ‘potential financial liability’, the town is hoping the public will help identify what types of waste were dumped, where it was dumped and how the landfill was laid out.
“We just need the local knowledge, the people of the community will hopefully be able to tell us about the old landfill,” said Krystle Fedoretz, director of development services with the town.
Information will be compiled and used to help identify the landfill’s contents to aid the town in testing the site and identifying the future obligations necessary for maintenance.
The town hopes to identify if any fuel, oil or chemical tanks were on site, any buildings, acceptance of used oil or household hazardous waste, acceptance of human or animal waste, soil or water testing on the property and fires on the property. They are also looking for any general information on disposal trenches and cover methods.
“Landfills are a liability for municipalities, so we need to know what we’re going up against,” said Fedoretz.
The landfill, located 0.8 kilometres south of town on the old Pickardville Road, was operational for around 50 years before being replaced by the Westlock Regional Landfill in 2001. In the brief time between the two, the county landfill was used by the town residents.
Currently there are no plans to develop or sell the property.
Residents with any information regarding the old landfill are asked to contact Fedoretz at 780 349 4444 ext. 104.
“There’s no piece of information that’s too small,” said Fedoretz.
