A Saskatchewan landfill approved to accept rendered specified risk material has finally begun accepting the product.
The Highway 55 Waste Management Corp. in the Rural Municipality of Canwood built a pit for SRM last year. It accepted its first load in February.
The materials were previously used to make animal feed and fertilizer but that practice was banned after BSE led to stricter rules.
The pit was ready to accept material last June but government red tape held up the process.
Saskatoon Processing Co., a division of West Coast Reduction, is the only renderer in the province. It had been shipping its product to a landfill in Coronation, Alta.
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“We’re happy to use this place,” said Bruce King, manager of Saskatoon Processing.
“Distance is the saving for us. It’s about half as far.”
Richard Porter, reeve of the RM and chair of Highway 55, said he had hoped there would be more material.
“We’re receiving 20 to 25 tonnes every three weeks,” he said. “I guess it pays the power bill.”
Both Porter and King said if the XL Foods plant in Moose Jaw reopened, the situation would be different.
“We would be doing a pretty good business,” said Porter.
The pit is designed for semi-trailers to be able to drive in, unload and turn around.
King said everyone is prepared for when XL does reopen and volumes increase.
XL has repeatedly said the Moose Jaw plant is part of its long-term plans. The plant was closed 11 months ago and the employees were locked out last September.
“It’s amazing how many people depend on that plant,” said King.
In the meantime, Saskatoon Processing is collecting SRM at smaller and medium-sized abattoirs around the province. The material is rendered into a granular product that will be composted in the Highway 55 pit.
Each load is covered immediately once it is dumped in the pit.
Porter said equipment used on the site must be washed.
Construction of a building where vehicles can be washed and staff can change clothing should be complete this summer, he said.
