Downed trees  eliminate visual screen  at  Foothills Landfill – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C.-  There is a new look on the  west side of Foothills Boulevard  near the Foothills Landfill.

Trees have been cleared in order to make way for  the entrance relocation project and much to the surprise of many a passer by,  the activities  at the landfill  are clearly visible.

This is phase two of the $7.4 million dollar project  that will make it easier and more  efficient for those accessing the site.

It is not uncommon to see vehicles lined up  for hundreds of metres waiting to  get access to the site,  the new entrance will  create enough space to line up,  as well as create by-pass lanes for both  directions.

The  new entrance  will include new scales, scale house, an  operations building public tipping area and recycling area as well as an expansion of the compost facility.

Phase one of the project  has already  seen  infrastructure work completed, including installation of all water and sanitary lines, connection of the leachate collection infrastructure at the landfill to the City of Prince George sewer line,  extension of the water line at the landfill facility to the proposed operations building and scale facilities.

While  the  tree removal   that buffers the landfill from  Foothills Boulevard was a necessity,  the extent  of the logging activity was  amplified with BC Hydro  doing some of its own  maintenance work to remove trees or brush  that  threaten  the hydro line.

Some area  neighbours  east of  Foothills have  complained the  tree removal has  not only  eliminated  the visual  screen, but  has also removed an odour  barrier and they can now smell garbage.  The actual odour  is coming from the  Landfill’s lagoons which  were  filled to the max with  run off  when  a compost pile caught fire  in mid April.  The lagoon levels have  receded, and while  they continue to be the source of  some unpleasant odours, the odour will subside.