City council is being asked to amend this year’s capital budget to make improvements to the transfer station at the Whitehorse landfill.

“The city’s waste management facility is a key component of the city’s waste management infrastructure and requires upgrades to address safety issues and operational deficiencies,” Ira Webb, the city’s manager of waste services, told council Monday evening, citing the administrative report prepared for the meeting.

“These upgrades include safety protections and expanded collection area. Specific components of this portion of the work include fall protections, concrete pads and barriers, signage, grading and altered traffic flow, as well as upgraded storage for hazardous wastes,” Webb said.

“An expanded collection area for metals and tires is also planned to increase operational efficiency and mitigate environmental risks associated with current material stockpiles,” Webb told council.

For instance, he noted, vehicles can currently back up right to the edge of the excavated areas where the large bins are placed – and potentially fall right in.

The $2.2 million required for the work has been approved by the federal funding agency.

Now, council needs to amend its capital budget for this year to include the money.

Council is scheduled to vote next Monday on the administrative recommendation to amend this year’s capital budget.

The project includes $750,000 approved in 2021 for phase one of the project, and it has already been moved to the capital budget.

Webb said the entire project budget of $2.95 million will be funded by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program upon receipt of a transfer payment agreement, expected this month.

The project also includes bringing in a fibre optic cable to the landfill.