Solid Waste Management Regulations Saskatchewan Environmental Code

2. Solid Waste Management Regulations Saskatchewan Environmental Code Manoj Singh Ph.D., P.Eng.

3. Outline of Presentation • Landfill Program – Ministry Restructuring • Notable changes to existing Waste Regulations • Landfill & Transfer Station Code Chapters – An insight

4. Landfill Program – Organizational Changes Single window service for clients on solid waste related matters irrespective of the waste type being handled.

5. Landfills: How they have developed 1972 Health Regs Introduced Located near sloughs, coulees and sandy areas Regulations were introduced when cancer-causing toxins from burning plastics became a concern 1984 EMPA Regs

6. Solid Waste Management: VISION Environmentally sound and economically efficient waste management, diversion and recycling in Saskatchewan.

7. Prescriptive versus Results-based Regulations Prescriptive approach (e.g. Current Regulations) • Consistent set of rules • Inflexible • Regulations written typically to address current issues Results- based approach (e.g. Proposed Environmental Code) • Opportunity for innovation and site specific environmental solutions • Flexible • Accommodates changes

8. Notable Changes • Permits : • No permits but a simple Notification instead for Municipalities and government agencies. • Privately owned and operated facilities – Permit will be required + Financial assurances • Permit Renewals: • No renewals required unless there is a change in the activity. • Qualified Person: • Certification of certain documents by a qualified person is a legal requirement now, not just policy • Reporting and Record keeping : enhanced requirements

9. Structure of Landfill & Transfer Station Chapters PART – 2 : ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION Environmental Protection Plan (meeting Results- based Objectives) + OR PART – 1 : GENERAL COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT/ AUDIT CRITERIA Prescriptive Standards PART – 3 : ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION

10. LANDFILL CHAPTER

11. Part –I : General

12. Application • Chapter Applies to every landfill in the province handling non-hazardous solid waste irrespective of the waste type being handled. • Does not apply to: • Landfills established for outfitter camp and mineral exploration camps • Disposal of waste generated by a single household on their own property.

13. Notification & Permits • Requires Notification/ Permit to be applied in a prescribed application form. • Available application forms: • Establish or Expand a Landfill • Establish or expand a Transfer Station • Operate a Landfill • Operate Transfer station • Closure of Landfill and Transfer station • Application forms may be submitted either: • on-line through Ministry’s web portal; or • mailed/e-mailed to the address provided in the application form. • Requires various documents - list provided in the respective application forms

14. Transitional Rule (for achieving compliance with the Code)

15. Operator’s Obligations where Transitional Rule Applies (A) Facilities Operating WITH a valid Permit

16. (B) Facilities Operating WITHOUT a valid Permit

17. Part –II : Alternative Solution • Provides opportunity for site specific designs approach or solutions • Specifies a set of results-based objectives (RBOs) • Requires: • Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) that satisfies the RBOs; and • EPP certified by a QP

18. EPP – Typical Components

22. Part –III : Acceptable Solution • Consolidates Ministry’s existing policies, permit conditions and best management practices for landfills at one place. • Prescribes rules that addresses all aspects of landfills from their siting, design, construction, operation , monitoring, closure, post-closure care to record keeping and reporting. • Provides generic landfill designs to suit variety of site conditions, waste types and their quantity planned for disposal.

23. Acceptable Solution - Contents

24. Technical Investigation • Required for new constructions and expansion of exiting facilities where such investigation has never been undertaken. • Expansion: means either • horizontal increase outside of the existing waste footprint of a landfill or • volumetric increase of the estimated or designed waste disposal capacity of the existing waste footprint Existing waste footprint means the area or cell within the compliance boundary where: Waste has been disposed of in the past in accordance with the estimated or designed waste disposal capacity; or Waste is currently being disposed as on the date of Code made effective.

25. Intent: Delineating subsurface geologic and hydrogeologic settings Information 2: Calculationof Plug Flow Transit Time Information 1: Distance between proposed landfill base and the uppermost useable aquifer SITE SENSITIVITY

26. Generic Designs / Design basis + Waste type & quantity Site sensitivity Type –I Waste Mixed waste stream generated from residential, commercial and institutional sources Plug flow transit time (PFTT) Distance between landfill base and the uppermost aquifer Type –II Waste Waste stream having consistent and predictable composition and exhibiting certain specific characteristics specified in the chapter

27. Generic Designs

28. Landfill Design Elements

29. Landfill Operation • Requires an Operating Plan certified by a QP • may be amended as required/necessary – QP required to certify amendments • AllowsCo-disposal of contaminated soil at Landfills receiving Type – I waste • Parameters of concern should be within the limits specified in SEQS • Qty. for co-disposal not to exceed 20% of the total qty. of Type-I waste disposed annually • Qty. for stockpiling not to exceed 30% of the total qty. of Type-I waste disposed annually • AllowsControlled burning of specific waste types subject to certain conditions

30. Environmental Monitoring • RequiresanEnvironmental Monitoring Plan certified by a QP. • may be amended as required/necessary – QP required to certify amendments • Requires: • monitoring of the surface water, groundwater, ambient air and leachate quality (where applicable) • determination of baseline/background water quality data(both groundwater and surface water) • Minimum frequency of monitoring specified in the chapter • Exemption from any or all monitoring requirements available only through an Alternative Solution

31. Landfill Closure Report • Requires a Closure Report certified by a QP. • Closure report must: • satisfy the requirements set out in the chapter; and • Include, at a minimum: • a site plan showing all the features; • waste description, total in-place waste quantity; and • an estimate of the remaining contaminating lifespan of the landfill inferred from environmental monitoring data.

32. Post-Closure Care • Requires mandatory Post-Closure Care (PCC). • Includes: • annual site inspection; and • sampling and testing of groundwater and leachate, where applicable. • Exemption from PCC- available only through Alternative Solution • Requires PCC report every five years until termination of PCC.

33. Duration of PCC - • Early PCC period : minimum specified in the chapter (10 - 25 years) • Late PCC period : to be assessed by QP • Frequency of Monitoring – • Early PCC period : annual / once in two years - parameter specific • Late PCC period : once every two years

34. TRANSFER STATION CHAPTER

35. Part –I : General

36. Who it Applies to: • Applies to every Transfer Station in the province. • Does not apply to: • Containers or bins or waste processing facilities used for recycling or processing of material for which there is an established stewardship program • Public litter bins • Facility that temporarily stores solid waste in a receptacle, bin or container that prevents that waste or any liquid in that waste from leaving the container

37. Acceptable Solution - Contents

38. Siting & Site Suitability Report • Specifies restrictions for establishing Transfer Station at certain locations • Requires a site suitability report - typically topography and surface water hydrology

39. Design & Construction • Requires : • Site Plan identifying various site features including designated areas for waste storage; and • Design Plan for: • management of surface waters generated from a specified design storm; and • monitoring of groundwater, where necessary.

40. Transfer Station Operation • Requires an Operating Plan certified by a QP • Plan may be amended as required/necessary – QP required to certify amendments • Waste removal from the transfer station: • must be at a frequency that precludes: • the generation of odour • insect breeding or the harbouring of other vectors • leaching of any substance that may cause an adverse effect • AllowsControlled burning of specific waste types subject to certain conditions

41. Environmental Monitoring • RequiresanEnvironmental Monitoring Plan certified by a QP. • Plan may be amended as required/necessary – QP required to certify amendments • Requires: • monitoring of surface water and groundwater (where applicable) • determination of baseline/background water quality data • Frequency of monitoring specified in the chapter – typically annual • Exemption from monitoring available under the Acceptable Solutions itself – will require certification from a QP

42. Key Points to Remember • Code requirements for landfills and transfer stations are not significantly changed. • Generic designs for landfills under the “Acceptable Solutions” apply under most conditions. • For some sites, an “Alternative Solution” might be more economical and efficient. • An “Alternative Solutions” requires an Environmental Protection Plan whichmight still incorporate parts of the “Acceptable Solutions.”

43. Manoj Singh Ph.D., P.Eng. Ministry of Environment Environmental Protection Branch 112 Research Drive Saskatoon, Canada S7N 3R3 www.environment.gov.sk.ca