By Laurel Munroe, Cape Breton Post, March 2, 1999
Council has finally given the
green light to a solid waste
strategy for the Cape Breton
Regional Municipality
(CBRM).
During a day-long session
Monday, council approved
the $16.6 million plan, which
includes blue-bag curbside
collection and a material
recycling facility (MRF).
At a similar session held in
late January, council refused
to approve the proposed
strategy – citing concerns
about the cost – voting
instead to table it until Mayor
David Muise and a
delegation from the CBRM
met with provincial
Environment Minister Michel
Samson in February.
The minister did not make
any financial commitment.
The total amount required to
implement the plan –
including upgrading the
incinerator, implementing
ash management,
non-combustibles
management and recycling
– is $18.9 million; with a
$2,260,000 contribution
from the province, the
CBRM must contribute
$16,640,000 over the next
two years. In subsequent
years the strategy is
expected to cost the
municipality between
$1-$2.6 million annually.
Council earlier approved a
borrowing resolution for the
$16.6 million, which was
initially expected to result in
a debt financing cost of
roughly $1.95 million per
year.
New burner to be operational by month's end 
