Frog Lake First Nation, located 207 km east of Edmonton, celebrated the grand opening of the community’s new waste transfer station. Expected to be fully operational in summer 2023, the facility will establish a sustainable waste management solution that will contribute to the community’s well-being and safeguard local ecosystems.
Indigenous Services Canada invested $3.2 million to support the project. The Nation worked with local Indigenous contractors throughout the development of the project. The new waste transfer station will enable the Nation to manage waste in an environmentally safe manner and remove the need for third-party contractors.
“Congratulations Chief Desjarlais and Frog Lake First Nation on your efforts to get to today’s milestone and grand opening of your new waste transfer station. Waste management is just one part of all the important infrastructure required in any community to keep our environment safe and our people healthy,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services.
“I am very pleased to announce the official Grand Opening of our New Waste Transfer Station. It has been a long time coming as our Nation struggles to manage the ever growing concern of the solid waste overflow and begin the clean up of the contamination of our current Waste Management site. I would like to thank the Frog Lake First Nations Capital Committee, ISC, GHD and others who took part in the development of the new site. We are hopeful that this new Waste Transfer system will shine a light on the importance of recycling to better manage solid waste in Frog Lake,” said Greg Desjarlais, Chief, Frog Lake First Nations #121 & 122.
Frog Lake First Nation has a population of approximately 1,450 persons living in 450 homes.
Frog Lake First Nation is also exploring a curbside waste diversion pilot project. If it proceeds, the Nation may be one of the first Indigenous communities in Alberta that supports local curbside pickup in their community.
The First Nations Waste Management Initiative provides support to First Nations to develop sustainable waste management systems through modern infrastructure, operations, training and partnerships.
Featured image: Frog Lake waste transfer station waste storage structure. (Government of Canada)
