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Waste facility coming to west Newton

Metro Vancouver will be locating an $8-to-$14-million residential drop off facility in Surrey.
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The blue area on this map is being considered for a residential waste drop off station.

West Newton will be the home of a waste facility, hoped to stem almost $1 million in illegal dumping in Surrey.

It's been in the works for years, but it's believed Metro Vancouver and the City of Surrey will have agreed on a site soon.

The residential drop off centre, now referred to as an "eco centre," will take only household waste – no commercial waste or city curbside pickup trucks will be allowed to use it.

Metro Vancouver will be financing the $8-to-$14-million facility.

The primary purpose of the eco centre (pictured left) is to give residents a closer place to drop off household waste, such as renovation material, merchandise, yard waste, such as tree limbs, etc.

The function will be somewhat similar to a waste transfer station, but it will be far smaller in scope.

The three-to-five acre site will require a zoning for "high impact industrial" limiting the possibility of locations to only a few.

Because it involves land acquisitions, city staff are unable to disclose the locations being considered.

That said, the only areas in Newton with that type of zoning are in west Newton, roughly bordered by 88 Avenue to the north, 72 Avenue to the south, King George Boulevard to the east and 120 Street (Scott Road) to the west.

Other areas with industrial zoning in Newton have been dismissed as possibilities.

If the property is already zoned "high-impact" industrial, no public hearing will be required.

However, Metro Vancouver will be holding public consultation hearings nonetheless.

Coun. Bruce Hayne, who chairs the city's environmental advisory committee, says the move to put it there is all about making it as easy as possible not to illegally dump their waste.

"Forcing people to drive to Port Kells to get rid of a mattress as an example, (when they live in) South Surrey or Newton, is problematic for some people," Hayne said. "Or at least it's a little more difficult, so it's easier to dump it."

A site will be located by summer, and Hayne said public information meetings will take place shortly after.

Hayne said he's not concerned about bringing a potentially controversial subject before the public prior to the Nov. 15 election.

"Really this is all about convenience, and with an emphasis on the recycling component of it," Hayne said. "I think it's nothing but good news for the community. It's going to be an added service to them with virtually no downside to them."

@diakiw

Blog: How we got here, at Postdeadline.com