Public Works

Landfill Locations & Hours

TANGENT LANDFILL

NE 36-78-25-W5
Township Road 790, West of Range Road 244

HOURS: Tuesday & Friday, 2:00pm – 8:00pm

WANHAM TRANSFER SITE

SW 13-78-3-W6
Township Road 782, East of Range Road 31

HOURS: Monday & Thursday, 2:00pm – 8:00pm

*No Large Loads of Old Building Material, chicken wire and barbed wire will be accepted in Wanham, must take to Tangent.

Recycling

There are recycling bins located in Wanham, Eaglesham, Tangent and Watino.

TAKING WASTE TO THE TRANSFER SITE OR THE LANDFILL?

All loads must be covered or secured to alleviate loss on the way to the landfill.

You may purchase netting from Birch Hills County to ensure that the contents does not litter the Country Roads.

Call the Office at 780-694-3793 to check availability.

PLEASE HELP US KEEP OUR ROADSIDES LITTER FREE

By making better decisions about what you buy and how you dispose of it, you can help protect our environment.

ITEMS ACCEPTED AT LANDFILL

Electronic waste, Paint cans recycling and bale twine recycling is accepted.

When taking the following items to the landfills please place them in their designated areas.

• Wood
• Appliances
• Tires
• Batteries
• Metal
• Chemical Jugs
• Grain Bags – Accepted by Appointment Only
• Use Motor Oil
• Electronic Waste
• Paint
• Bale Twine

Both the Tangent and Wanhan sites accept used oil.

Chemical Jugs are only accepted at the Tangent landfill.  They must be triple rinsed or pressure washed, be punctured,  have the booklets and caps removed, and be bagged prior to disposal.  Bags are available onsite, at the County office, and should be available at your local retailer.

Used oil must be placed in the appropriate containment drum. There are seperate areas/locations at each site for filters & containers as well.

The success of this service is dependent on each user. Please dispose of the used products correctly.

If you need help please ask the attendant on site.

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED AT LANDFILL

• Concrete disposal
• Concrete is not accepted at any  Birch Hills County Landfills.

APPROACHES

Birch Hills County is responsible to provide one approach to access each quarter section.  As of November 12, 2003 approaches will be required to have a minimum of a 13-meter base with a culvert measuring a minimum of 600mm in diameter where necessary.  Any additional approaches shall be installed at the expense of the landowner and must be built to the specification of the County.

If a landowner requires that an existing approach be widened, it shall be done so to the specifications of the County and at the landowner’s expense.  The landowner must supply or purchase a culvert approved by the County.  If available, Birch Hills County will sell a new culvert to the landowner.

Any additional or widened approaches must receive approval from the County prior to construction.

BRUSH REMOVAL

Birch Hills County is responsible for controlling the brush within road right of ways (ROWs), Intersection Line of Sights, as well as within drainage ditches.  Where there is excessive growth, mulchers/hand/chemical are used to reduce the brush to ground level where it can then be controlled on a routine basis by means of mowing or spraying. The County has an annual brushing program. Residents may fill out a Public Works Request Form if they have concerns about brush on a specific road. 

CULVERTS

Anyone wishing to purchase a new culvert must do the following:

• Pay for the culvert in advance of picking it up in the County Yard.
• Supply their own fastening device (straps or chain etc.).
• Provide a suitable safe method of transporting the culvert.
• Verify the size and length of culvert and provide sales receipt with County personnel.

County staff will load each culvert and help ensure that you have fastened it properly. Please call the County to ensure that someone will be available to help load the culverts.

Anyone wishing to purchase a culvert should call the County office at 780-694-3793 to ensure we have it in stock.

DITCH CLEANING

Birch Hills County will undertake road ditch cleanouts where it is determined that it is necessary for the proper maintenance of the road and drainage system.

Ditch cleanouts required as a result of farm management practices or to drain land may be refused or allocated a low priority.  When ditch cleanout requests are refused, Birch Hills County transportation staff will explain to the landowner the reason (s) for the refusal.

When a ditch cleanout results in the redirection of water or drainage of land, the project may be referred to Alberta Environment for their review and comments.

DUST CONTROL

Birch Hills County runs a calcium program annually. Residents who wish to purchase dust control for their road may do so through the County Office or through a Public Work Request Form. Please be aware that deadline for Dust Control orders are usually in Spring. For further information on the process check out the policy below.

• 32-03-21 – Dust Control Signed
• BHC Work Request Form

GRADER ROUTES

There are five grader routes in Birch Hills County, each consisting of approximately 140 miles of roadway:

• Codesa
• Eaglesham
• Peoria
• Tangent
• Wanham

GRAVEL PROGRAM

• 100% of Birch Hills County roads are gravel, totaling approximately 735 miles.
• 60,000 tonnes of gravel is used during our Yearly Regravelling Program which covers 160 to 180 miles of roadway per year.
• Birch Hills County contracts for the haul of gravel on an annual basis.

SNOW REMOVAL

Please be advised that the County does not offer private driveway plowing, please contact our office if you would like a number for a local contractor. Birch Hills County requests that when approaching snowplowing equipment please exercise extreme caution and slow down, for the safety of our employees. Our snowplowing equipment is big in nature with many blind spots, please don’t assume the operator can see you. If you have snowplowing concerns please call the County office instead of stopping our machinery.

WINTER MAINTENANCE

Plowing of gravel surface roadways should commence when snow accumulations reach 10-cm on the roadway unless drifting conditions prevail. Snow removal will be undertaken in a manner that minimizes motor grader backtracking or high blading. Snow removal will only be undertaken to an established residence or to transport agricultural products, provided the road may be opened with a motor grader. This service will be subject to the availability of equipment. Winter maintenance schedules are determined by weather conditions and at the direction of the Public Works Department or, in their absence, the CAO.

Priority is given to school bus routes, arterial roads, and medical emergencies, then local roads and Hamlets. 

CONTINUOUS HEAVY SNOW FALL PLOWING

In the event that we experience extreme snowfalls. The County is going to open up roads as quickly as possible using a simple two pass system. Graders will make two passes on the roads, but will not clear approaches or full intersections during this process. Efforts will be made by the graders to not pile snow at the end of a driveway by lifting the wing to spread the snow out, instead of creating a snow bank. This plowing process will cause more than usual amounts of snow accumulation at every approach and intersection.

In order for the graders to clear as many miles as possible, no roads will be assigned a priority. Once the heavy snowfall has ended, roads will be cleaned up as per daily road maintenance procedures. It is at this time that all approaches and intersections will be cleared fully.

The County hopes not to have to use this system often but asks for your patience and understanding when we do.

RIG MOVES

Are you planning to move a rig in Birch Hills County?

You are required to give 24 hours notice prior to all Inspections. Permits will not be processed unless payment for services accompanies the request and appropriate agreements signed. In addition, any approaches required for rig moves will be inspected and must meet the standards specified in the agreements.

Fees for industrial inspections will be doubled for all non-permitted moves.

Fees for industrial inspections will be doubled for permits less than 24 hours notice.

For more information contact the County office at 780-694-3793.

Prices are as follows:

• Rig Move Pre & Post Inspection: $495.00
• Service Rig moves & Well Completions Pre and Post Inspection: $495.00
• Pipeline Crossing Road Inspection: $495.00

Prices are subject to the addition of 5% GST

WELLSITES AND PIPELINES

Need approval for a Wellsite or Pipeline?

You will need to send payment with your request and your approval will be processed at the Birch Hills County Administration Office.

Prices are as follows:

• LSD Wellsite Lease Approval: $155.00
• Pipeline Crossing Approval: $155.00

Prices are subject to the addition of 5% GST

SEISMIC

Approval for a Seismic project requires you to send payment with your notification, our Director of Public Works will sign your document and fax it back to you.

Prices are as follows:

• Seismic Survey Notification Approval: $175.00
• Seismic Pre and Post Inspection: $495.00

Prices are subject to the addition of 5% GST

There are 86 bridges and bridge size culverts within Birch Hills County. Bridges are inspected every five years by contract.  A key component of Birch Hills County’s Bridge program is the funding assistance received from Alberta Infrastructure.

TransCanada information bulletins on ditching and brushing around pipelines are below.

• Brushing
• Ditching