CSA R111-2021
Solid Waste Sites in Northern Communities: From Planning to Post-Closure

Standard No.

CSA R111-2021

Release Date

2021

Published By

Canadian Standards Association (CSA)  CA  /  CSA

Latest

CSA R111-2021

Scope

Scope 1.1 Purpose This standard covers the management of MSW facilities, including the assessment, planning, siting, design, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of these facilities, and includes pollution risk management strategies and risk mitigation measures for new and existing infrastructure in northern communities. It provides: (a) procedures relating to the planning, siting, design, construction, operation, inspections, monitoring and maintenance of solid waste management facilities as well as risk mitigation measures, if applicable; (b) an overview of the procedures for carrying out an overall risk assessment, particularly with regard to the vulnerability of the infrastructure; (c) factors to be considered in relation to land use and infrastructure planning; (d) an overview of typical factors related to natural and human-caused hazards covered by this standard, including climate change; (e) requirements and best practices for facility closure and decommissioning; (f) inspections, monitoring, maintenance and post-closure management of facilities; g) emergency response plan protocols; h) a framework for community processes relating to addressing issues related to solid waste, human health and environmental factors; and (i) general information and relevant reference works. Notes: 1) By complying with this standard, users are able to demonstrate that the design and implementation of management strategies and risk mitigation measures consider and support the preservation of permafrost or the reduction of the effects disruptors linked to the thawing of permafrost. Since permafrost performance is often closely linked to the success of risk management strategies aimed at protecting human health and the environment at solid waste management facilities, compliance with this standard helps mitigate their impact on infrastructure and environment in and around the project site. 2) However, permafrost is not the only challenge facing those designing and operating waste management facilities in the North. Often, the remoteness of communities makes it difficult to hire and retain the personnel necessary to manage the complex activities associated with the safe operation of modern waste management sites. Communities may also find it costly to adopt many of the measures described in this standard. Those who undertake the development and operation of waste management facilities must be confident that they can access the financial and non-financial resources that the facility will need throughout its lifespan, which could extend over several decades. 3) This standard does not replace the laws and regulations in force (see the preface and article 4). It is possible for jurisdictions to use it in whole or in part to supplement existing regulations, or to adopt it as they see fit. The aim of the standard is to help each jurisdiction improve its management of municipal solid waste. Appendix C provides a list of existing laws, guidelines and other documents in each jurisdiction. 1.2 Users This standard is intended for use in the Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunavik, but other northern and remote jurisdictions may also wish to adopt it. Additionally, although the standard was prepared for use by communities, other generators of municipal waste may also find it useful, including private waste management facilities, such as mining sites, construction shacks or other waste producers who do not have access to an established municipal site. Adoption of this standard is voluntary unless the applicable jurisdiction has adopted it. Users include: (a) owners and operators of MSW facilities; (b) owners and operators of other community infrastructure for whom it is important that the MSW facility be operated safely; c) contract administrators who supervise an installation project for DSM; d) investigators (scientists and engineers) who assess site conditions (current and predicted) and risks related to the progress of the project; (e) professionals and design reviewers (consulting engineers and technical service personnel of the territory, province or region concerned) who design, evaluate, approve and supervise the implementation of technical solutions; f) contractors working on facilities for DSM; (g) regulatory bodies, such as land and water boards and review panels; (h) compliance verification authorities, such as qualified building inspectors and qualified environmental inspectors; i) land use planners and community planners; j) educators, for the purposes of knowledge transfer; and k) other persons who have a direct interest in the risk management or risk mitigation elements of DSM facility planning and/or construction projects, design and construction, and inspection mitigation measures and implementation of the plan. Note: Ideally, very small waste generators use the nearest MSW facility, e.g. e.g., small communities with only a few houses, or services related to road transportation (gas stations, motels). However, it is recognized that not all of these localities may have the capacity to transport their waste or manage it properly on site. Where possible, municipal, regional and territorial governments should encourage proper management of solid waste. 1.3 Scope 1.3.1 General The management of municipal solid waste facilities requires management of the risks posed by these facilities. In this standard, risk management is addressed through the use of two main strategies: by requiring relevant risk assessments to be conducted at different stages of the life cycle of the municipal solid waste facility, and by specifying and implementing implementing best practices to mitigate these risks throughout the life cycle. The requirements set out in this standard are intended to address risks related to: a) human health and the environment, arising from proposed, existing or closed MSW facilities; and b) proposed, existing or closed MSW facilities. The risks to be considered are linked either to hazards of natural origin or to the types of waste produced by the community which end up in the installation itself. The risk is partially mitigated by ensuring that facilities meet specific requirements established based on their size classification (section 5). Risk assessment and management requirements include consideration of the potential impact of climate change and other factors to be considered in planning, siting, design, construction, operation and the closure of a facility for MSW, as well as the period following its closure (sections 6 to 17). This standard covers the entire infrastructure project life cycle or strategic planning cycles, including planning, siting, construction, operation and maintenance, and closure, decommissioning and the period following closure, or until residual risk levels are deemed acceptable. 1.3.2 Types of infrastructure This standard covers the assessment, planning and design, implementation, operation, maintenance and monitoring of solid waste management facilities, as well as mitigation measures to be applied during all stages of planning, design, construction, life, closure and decommissioning, and the post-closure period: (a) municipal solid waste facilities of distinct categories ; (b) landfill sites; (c) transfer stations; (d) public landfill facilities; (e) composting facilities; (f) incinerators; and (g) the expansion of facilities or structures of any of these types. 1.4 Terminology In this standard, the term “shall” indicates a requirement, that is to say a prescription that the user must respect to ensure compliance with the standard; “should” indicates a recommendation or what is advisable but not obligatory to do; and “may” indicates a possibility or what is permitted to be done. The notes that accompany the articles do not include prescriptions or recommendations. They are used to separate from the text explanations or information that are not properly part of the standard. Notes at the bottom of figures and tables are part of these and can be written as prescriptions. The annexes are qualified as normative (mandatory) or informative (optional) to clarify their application. Values shown in SI units are the official values in this standard. Values in parentheses are given for information and comparison purposes only.

CSA R111-2021 history

• 2021 CSA R111-2021 Solid Waste Sites in Northern Communities: From Planning to Post-Closure

Standard and Specification