The provincial government is shedding some light on the amount of trash that they say would have been imported into the province with the proposed waste-to-energy plant in Lewisporte.

The province rejected the proposal from Synergy World Power on Wednesday, with the main reason being a government policy that dates back to 1994 on the importation of garbage for final disposal, which the company would be in contradiction of.

While policies can be amended, Minister Minister Bernard Davis says what the company is planning to do also has to be considered.

Davis says the company was proposing to bring in 800,000 tonnes of garbage – which is twice as much as what the province produces.

Furthermore, he says about 90,000 tonnes of ash would be left behind after the fact, which is more than what they would put in to Central Waste Management for the entire central and western regions.

Davis says it’s “not sensible” for the province to move in that direction, which is why the policy was created in 1994 based on what government and the public want to see the province be.

Freake: Town “Satisfied” With Minister’s Decision

The Town of Lewisporte accepts the minister’s decision to reject Synergy World Power’s proposal for a waste to energy plant.

The town had maintained a neutral position on the proposal, choosing to await the minister’s response.

The proposal to import garbage and convert it to liquid fuel garnered significant public opposition.

Mayor Krista Freake says they’re satisfied with the environmental assessment process and the minister’s decision.

She says they had faith in the process, and says if Synergy decides to reapply, they’ll have to undergo the same process again.