2008 The Other Side of the Podium

Greetings Ward 1!

The Other Side of the Podium, 2008Personal reflection by Bonnie Littley

Coming from the “other side of the podium” as a volunteer in the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) sector, I believe it gives me a different perspective on politics and government – a more “down to earth” kind of perspective.
Margaret Mead’s very popular quote; “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” I’ve seen first hand how true that statement is. In my work with the Rouge Duffins Greenspace Coalition as well as within my network of many other not-for-profit organizations or advocacy groups, are all basically run by “thoughtful, committed citizens” thinking beyond just themselves.
Whether it’s about moving mental health beds from Ajax/Pickering Hospital, Urban Sprawl, Climate Change, even traffic calming in your neighbourhood to Waste Management, it’s “the people” that have the power to make change happen. That’s why in my newsletters I’ll continue to advocate, call people to action on various issues by way of letter writing or appearing before Councils and Committees as delegates.
This time in my personal reflection I’d like to highlight WASTE and the citizen action needed to combat the issue.
One of the most obvious positive changes in social behaviour is indicated through the success of the Blue Box program. We’ve all learned to recycle – and our kids are too! But what about the other “R’s”? The first one being – REDUCE, second one REUSE – then Recycle. Now, with the Green Bin organics program, we’re reducing too - but is it enough? When we shop, are we considering the 3 R’s? Does it annoy you that there is still so much packaging and disposable products that simply go in the garbage? And as individuals trying to do our part, are there not others missing that should also take responsibility? As municipal taxpayers, do you think we should be paying the brunt of all that waste management?
Waste is an expensive business, and here in Durham we’re pretty much on the way to building an incinerator to deal with it. Whether you support incineration or stabilized landfill like Nova Scotia has – it’s all costly and doesn’t get to the root of the issue – to REDUCE from the source. I was glad I went on the whirlwind tour of waste management in Nova Scotia.
There the provincial government has taken the lead. They have banned certain items from the waste stream and everyone must recycle and organically compost – all business and industry – it’s legislated. Something Municipal Councils can’t do, but are stuck with the bill. It’s referred to as Extended Producer Responsibility.
The majority of materials, which find their way to landfill, are various types of packaging and plastics that are not recyclable. Companies that produce consumer goods—and whose products are collected in Ontario’s recycling program—are required, by law, to contribute financially to the Blue Box recycling program through Stewardship Ontario. Each year, they provide funding to the municipalities to help with the costs incurred by its taxpayers for the Blue Box program. However, the money obtained does not nearly cover all the costs incurred for managing this program, and many products are still not recyclable.
We need to develop an extended producer responsibility program, in which all industry would be mandated to participate. Extended producer responsibility is the transfer of costs and/or physical responsibility of waste management from local government authorities, and the general taxpayer, to the producer.
Under such a program, all producers (without exception) would contribute to the Blue Box & organics programs; sharing the true costs for municipal waste programs. This creates the opportunity for an emerging market that truly reflects the environmental impacts of the product, and in which, consumers could make their selection accordingly.
With the Michigan border closing to our waste by December 2010, we need our provincial government to take action before all municipalities in Ontario are wallowing in mountains of waste, expensive waste management solutions that no municipalities alone can afford and the forever increase in environmental concerns as well.
Contact the Minister about this issue at:
John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment
Tel 416-314-6790, Fax 416-314-6748
jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Want to learn more?

Nova Scotia, Solid Waste-Resource Management Strategy
See: www.gov.ns.ca/nse/waste/swrmstrategy.asp

York/Durham Energy from Waste Facility
www.durhamyorkwaste.ca, also see
Clarington Watchdog, claringtonwatchdog.blogspot.com

Nova Scotia, Ministry of the Environment
www.gov.ns.ca/nse/waste/

Central Pickering Development Plan
www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page329.aspx

Places to Grow, Growth Plan for the Golden Horseshoe
www.pir.gov.on.ca/english/growth/index.html

The Greenbelt
www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page187.aspx

Sustainable Neighbourhood Design Guidelines
www.cityofpickering.com, 905-420-4617