Operations at Medicine Hat’s dump have been suspended until its operators clean up their act.
The Alberta government issued an environmental protection order today and suspended the landfill registration of Westar Landfill Ltd., which had been operating the landfill until early this year.
The suspension arises from a prolonged fire at the landfill that began Nov. 18, 2013, and burned until Jan. 3. It forced some area residents out of their homes due to potential health hazards from smoke and fumes.
When the fire was extinguished, the landfill operator voluntarily ceased operation.
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The government said the suspension will remain in effect until the operator conducts environmental and engineering assessments, manages fire fighting water and addresses the need for ground water monitoring and management of waste removed from the landfill during fire fighting operations.
The site, when in operation, is a Class 3 landfill that accepts non-hazardous and inert wastes.
There are three classes of landfill in Alberta: Class 1 accepts hazardous waste, Class 2 accepts non-hazardous waste and Class 3 accepts inert waste, which includes such things as concrete, asphalt, glass, scrap metal and dry timber.
