The Government of Yukon has released a What We Heard report following engagement about waste transfer stations with residents in Braeburn, Keno, Johnson’s Crossing and Silver City.
In late 2012, the Government of Yukon and the Association of Yukon Communities formed a working group to address solid waste, resulting in the 2013 Solid Waste Working Group Findings Report that emphasized the need for standardized, financially sustainable waste disposal services. In 2015, another Association of Yukon Communities working group produced a report released in 2016, titled Solid Waste Management: Vision for a Sustainable Model for Yukon’s Communities, which proposed a transition to a more sustainable, integrated waste management system for long-term municipal sustainability. The 2017 Ministerial Committee on Solid Waste reviewed the territory’s waste management system and offered recommendations to the Minister of Community Services, which were endorsed by the Yukon government in 2019.
These recent engagements were held between July and November 2023 and provided residents of Braeburn, Keno, Johnson’s Crossing and Silver City the opportunity to discuss modernizing waste disposal options. Throughout this timeframe, and extending into early 2024, Government of Yukon staff also engaged with Yukon First Nations governments to better understand and address their concerns or questions.
Participants expressed concerns about the perceived inconvenience and environmental impact of potential changes to transfer stations, including risks related to wildlife management, higher facility usage, travel costs, illegal dumping, wildfires, greenhouse gas emissions and effects on local businesses. Members of the public also highlighted the importance of recycling.
The Government of Yukon is reviewing feedback that was received in these engagement sessions, including options and solutions identified and discussed with community members, aiming to establish a modern, efficient and sustainable solid waste service for the Yukon.
Following this review, the Government of Yukon will assess the proposed service changes. This assessment will consider the Association of Yukon Committee and Ministerial Committee on Solid Waste recommendations, community needs and environmental considerations, among other factors. The goal is to identify services that address the current challenges and contribute to the long-term resilience of the Yukon's solid waste management system.
The What We Heard report is available at yukon.ca/en/what-we-heard-household-waste-disposal-options-braeburn-johnsons-crossing-keno-and-silver-city.
Our goal is to create a sustainable and accessible system of waste disposal for all Yukoners that considers the future generation of Yukoners. I appreciate everyone who gave their time to attend sessions and provide feedback.
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Between July and November 2023, eight public meetings were hosted with residents of Keno, Braeburn, Johnson’s Crossing and Silver City.
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Five meetings were held with Chief and Council from Yukon First Nations governments.
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The Government of Yukon is working to have a waste management system that is adapted to the North. To get there, the government is working with municipalities on regional agreements to assist them in providing a standard level of service, while bringing Yukon facilities to the same standard.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
John Tonin
Communications, Community Services
867-334-5816
john.tonin@yukon.ca