Pond Inlet to get new garbage bins, light poles with federal cash
Ottawa provides $400,000 to make hamlet more eco-friendly, improve safety
Pond Inlet will receive nearly $400,000 from the federal government to install up to eight new lighting poles and distribute 120 eco-friendly garbage bins to residents to improve safety and waste management in the hamlet, Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal announced on Thursday. (File photo)
Pond Inlet will soon become brighter and more eco-friendly with new light poles and steel garbage bins on the way, the hamlet’s SAO said Friday.
Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal announced Thursday that his department will give the hamlet $398,439 to fund the projects, to help make the community cleaner and improve waste management.
The hamlet, which has a population of around 1,555, will install six to eight new light poles to help improve visibility along pathways, especially during the dark winter months, said senior administrative officer David Stockley.
About 120 garbage bins made of galvanized steel will be installed in Pond Inlet this year, in an effort to make the hamlet more eco-friendly and to improve waste management, SAO David Stockley said. (Image courtesy of David Stockley)
Some will be placed on a pathway between the Northern Store and the Co-op, an area residents have been asking to be better lit for safety reasons, he said.
“Hopefully we’ll start having the poles put in place and everything installed before the fall when the darkness is more prominent.”
Each light pole will cost about $10,000, he said.
Some Pond Inlet residents can also expect to receive new garbage bins made of galvanized steel. The material is meant to be more durable and sustainable than wood and other forms of metal, which can wear down or rust more quickly than steel, Stockley said.
“Even the hinges on these garbage bins of stainless steel [are] very high quality,” he said.
About 120 bins will be delivered to the community this year, and Stockley said the hamlet may apply for funding to buy more bins next year.
The new garbage bins will also be more polar bear-proof and weatherproof, preventing garbage from being taken or scattered out onto the roads, he added.
Pond Inlet is a popular tourist destination in the North and a frequent stop for cruise ships sailing through the Northwest Passage.
Stockley said the hamlet hopes that better garbage bins and lighting will help keep the community cleaner and safer for residents, and more attractive for tourists coming through during the popular cruise season.
problem with metal garbage bins is that when it gets damaged it is not as easily fixed or replaced. after the first year there will be 10 Less usable bins (atleast). they will be hit by kids with hockey pucks (very loud and with enough time will bend the metal), qamutiks and Loaders will hit them. in 5 years there be a some in the community but everyone will be back to the wooden boxes, or 45 Gal drums.
however the new lights is a good thing. the winter pathways should be considered when installing lights, not everyone just follows roads. Lets make skidoo trials trough town safer and brighter.
I wonder how much capacity for each bin? looks like 200 L capacity will the hamlet have to pick up almost on a daily basis? might be more millage on garbage truck(s) if have to go around more often
Good news, but odd that funding would come from the Feds.
I’m just amazed at what now passes for printable “news” in this newspaper that used to do a lot of good journalism about important things. I imagine that the next big story to be covered is how some GN department has planned a staff picnic
Slow news day !!!
Because there’s so much going on and we’re obviously inundated with news … Some people just have to be bent out of shape over something or they don’t know what to do with themselves.
Good for Pond!