Recycling plans among many improvements in motion for Lax Kw'alaams

Residents of Lax Kw'alaams will soon have to get into the frame of mind to sort through their household items and put those that are recyclable into curbside boxes to be collected on a weekly basis.

The project is part of a shift in focus for the First Nation community in how it handles waste, with the  first step the construction of a solid waste transfer station which is currently underway.

Work on the Solid Waste Transfer station is already in motion, with design and development of the project now underway. Once completed, the recycling program will be introduced to the community, with Lax Kw'alaams collecting the recyclables on a weekly basis and diverting the recyclable material to the Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District facility on Kaien road in Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert's landfill site will soon
be the destination for Lax Kw'alaams
Solid Waste disposal efforts
(photo from City of PR annual report)

As for the Solid Waste Transfer Station, once constructed it will provide interim storage of the garbage for the community, with plans to transfer the collected waste by barge at a regular frequency to the City of Prince Rupert landfill site for disposal.

With the introduction of the new solid waste process, Lax Kw'alaams will then decommission the existing landfill site in their community.

The recycling and waste disposal plans announced last week, were both part of a larger overview for community members regarding a number of initiatives moving forward for Lax Kw'alaams.

As we outlined on the blog last week, two major transportation initiatives were announced in late June with funding from the Province of British Columbia in place for improvements to Tuck Road and plans for increased operation of the Lax Kw'alaams Ferry Service.

Other items that the Band is taking on through their own initiative include:

Design and construction a new effluent pump station, with work to commence in the fall, with plans to have it completed by the Spring of 2016.

The Design and installation of a New Fuel Dispensing Float at the community dock to improve operation and safety.

As well the Band updated the progress towards the completion of the Lax Kw'alaams Academy building which is anticipated to be ready for the opening of the school year this September, plans are in motion as well for a Grand Opening later in the fall of this year.

Some background on the range of infrastructure plans for the community can be found from notice posted to the Lax Kw'alaams Band website