Moncton, NB - Marking its 25th anniversary, the Greater Moncton Sewerage Commission today celebrated the official opening of its unique, global leading edge Composting Facility and unveiled some of the products it produces, including “Gardener’s Gold”, Compost Mulch and Compost Soil Conditioner. “This is quite an achievement and a proud day for us on behalf of our partners, the municipalities of Dieppe, Moncton and Riverview,” said Ronald J. LeBlanc, Chairman of the Greater Moncton Sewerage Commission, “We are proud that we are Moving Forward the environmental agenda in Greater Moncton, and globally, with the Sustainable Beneficial Uses of a Global Resource”. 

Prior to its inception in 1983 all of the wastewater in the Greater Moncton area was discharged, untreated, into the Petitcodiac River. Since 1983, the GMSC has sited, built, and paid for a wastewater collector system and treatment plant. 

In 2007 the GMSC hosted a World Environmental conference with delegates representing 44 countries as well as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank. 

The construction of a wastewater treatment system is the easy part, and only the start, when dealing with the treatment of wastewater. Operating wastewater treatment systems, and the management of the biosolids created by the treatment processes, is where the  and the real work begin. As a consequence, planning in regards to the options concerning the beneficial uses of biosolids must be undertaken long before a wastewater treatment plant is operational. 

For many wastewater treatment facilities, disposing of the biosolids produced is a major challenge. Marking its 25th Anniversary, the GMSC celebrates the official opening of its unique leading edge Composting Facility which allows for the biosolids it produces to be used in a beneficial manner rather than being disposed of in landfills. 

The GMSC also reflected on its past 25 years and advised of its future plans, including the leading role it is playing in the creation of a Global Environmental Atlas that will be published and launched by UN-Habitat this coming September at the IWA World 

Environmental conference in Vienna, Austria. According to Mr. LeBlanc, “The environment is a never-ending issue and is everybody’s business. By paying proper attention to environmental issues it assures that we have a healthy place to live and it also helps reinforce our area as an attractive, vibrant place in which to live, build or locate a business”. 

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Greater Moncton Sewerage Commission and the official opening of the Composting Facility, the GMSC will open its doors to the public on Friday and Saturday June 20 and 21, 2008. Guided tours of both facilities will be offered from 9 am to 3 pm. 

For more information contact: 

Roland P. Richard, P. Eng. 
Manager of Special Projects 
Greater Moncton Sewerage Commission 
Tel: 506-387-7977