A large pile of trash sits behind the waste incinerator, which has not been operational for two to three weeks. Photo: TODD VANSICKLE

The waste incinerator at Pockwood Pond is shut down and may not be operational for a few more weeks.

A large pile of trash sits behind the waste incinerator, which has not been operational for two to three weeks. Photo: TODD VANSICKLE
The facility experienced a mechanical failure two to three weeks ago, and it is waiting on a specialty part sent from the manufacturer, said Greg Massicote, manager of the Department of Waste Management.

Mr. Massicote said he is hopeful that the part, which is needed to maintain the temperature within the system, will arrive in two weeks or less.

In the meantime, the department has been digging landfill sites by the hill behind the incinerator to bury trash and reduce the risk of spontaneous waste fires, Mr. Massicote said.

Once the incinerator begins working again, workers will dump the ash from it far away from the landfill to continue to ensure that the risk of spontaneous fires is low, he added.

Mr. Massicote also said another device, the scrubber, is currently being manufactured and will arrive by the end of the year.

The scrubber cleans acid gas from the incinerator’s emissions with the goal of reducing air pollution.

The incinerator was delivered to the territory in 2009, but it didn’t come online until 2011.

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