Managing Waste

at the landfill / transfer station

 

Within your landfill or transfer station are a variety of materials that can or should be removed. Some are hazardous and toxic while others can be reused or recycled.

The environmental and health benefits for your community are many. There are also economic reasons, as reducing the amount of materials in your landfill will extend its life.

Landfill / Transfer Station Resources

How to Reduce Waste: A Toolkit for Manitoba First Nations

Find information on all landfill or transfer station materials in one spot – the Toolkit. Updated as of 2024!

Sample Job Postings

Landfill staff are the true land and water protectors. They separate and sort material at the landfill, ensure it is stored and handled safely, and coordinate getting it shipped out of the community.

Here are two sample job postings and a job description that you can modify for your community:

Staff Training

Many of the materials collected at the landfill are hazardous to the land, water, humans, and wildlife. Training is critical to keep landfill staff and community members safe, and protect the land and water for generations to come.

Supplies and Equipment

Landfill staff will need a variety of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other supplies to safely and efficiently manage the landfill. Here is a suggested list with estimated prices.

Landfill Signage

Signing collection areas at the landfill is key to keeping recyclable and hazardous materials separated from the rest. Bloodvein First Nation, Fisher River Cree Nation and Peguis First Nation installed bilingual signs at their landfills. (Fisher River sign translation by Elder Dorothy Crate and original design by student Jayde McKay.)

Handy Contact Lists

Here are two handy lists with contact information for the various types of materials handled at the landfill or transfer station. From industry stewardship groups to transporters and recyclers, this handy summary lists groups you would be contacting most often. This one-page cheat sheet provides the contact info for all of the industry stewardship groups in Manitoba.

Sample Waste Disposal Habits Survey

It can be helpful to understand how community members are currently dealing with different types of waste. Check out this sample Waste Disposal Habits Survey.

Backhaul for Winter Road Communities

Transporting recyclable and hazardous materials from remote communities presents an additional set of challenges. Starting in 2019-20, industry stewardship groups collaborated with 5 winter road First Nation communities in Manitoba to remove materials. Learn more about this pilot project here. Find details on the 2021 backhaul and the 2022 backhaul.

Landfill / Transfer Station Materials

Ready to start managing waste at your landfill or tackling another type of material? Here are the basics on how to safely collect, handle, store, and prepare for transport the most common materials at your landfill, and where you can find  more information.

If your community is just getting started, some of the easier materials to start with include old cell phones, consumer (household) batteries, tires and electronic waste.

Landfill / Transfer Station Operation Tips