2009 Highlights & Hot Topics

2009 Highlights & Hot Topics

Incinerator Approved at Regional Council
Top 10 reasons Councillor Littley did not support the incinerator project at Regional Council

10. Incineration is the wrong answer to the wrong question. First we must address why we generate so much waste. Zero Waste Policies are needed at all levels, including municipal and regional, while encouraging the province to adopt Zero Waste and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

9. Comparing to Sweden (or Europe) - The limited land mass of European countries impair their disposal options. In Sweden, EPR is in place and everyone MUST recycle and compost. Before waste is incinerated, all waste is sorted for hazardous waste and other undesirables to control the content of emissions - Durham has refused to consider pre-sorting. Sweden has already exceeded their Kyoto targets by 6%! Why would we add to an already overburdened airshed here?

8. Not a "Made in Durham" solution - The preferred vendor is US-based Covanta Energy Corporation that will buy equipment from Germany, leftover ash will be trucked to a landfill in New York. The proposed expansion plan could see Durham accept garbage from outside Durham to keep it viable. Incineration means "Burn and Bury". Every 3 tonnes of garbage burned, equals one tonne of ash which still needs to go to landfill.

7. Process - Limited public consultation. What drove the decision? Were municipalities in Durham just relieved it wasn’t proposed for their municipality? So? Put it in Clarington? Also, why was the Joint Waste Management Group made up of 50% members from York though they are not an equal partner? Of course they voted to put it in Durham!

6. Sticking to a decision made in the 90’s without reconsideration?? There are safer, more affordable options. For example: Nova Scotia has a Zero Waste Strategy and opted for Stabilized Landfill which removes all organic, recycled or hazardous waste first - minimizing emissions, smell or leachate.

5. Risk Assessment- Dr. Kyle, Medical Officer of Public Health, Durham Region: “Nano particle research is evolving as we speak”. So shouldn’t the Precautionary Principle apply? We don’t know the full risks involved to ensure it is safe.

4. The selected vendor Covanta, has a questionable track record of emissions violations and labour disputes.

3. Hundreds of chemicals emitted -only six (6) contaminants would be continuously monitored.

2. Although the Region required the winner bidder of the project to meet or exceed European Union standards for emissions monitoring and measurement, there is no legislation in Ontario that could enforce higher standards.

1. Cost - $272 million - We have committed all of our federal gas tax dollars to this project. With our transit system in its infancy, who will pay for transit improvements? Detroit is currently having difficulty getting out of its “Put or Pay” contract with Covanta. Incinerator vendors bind municipalities to 25+ yr contracts.

For info & comment see:
www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/eaab/projects/durham_york.htm#
Also see: www.zerowaste4zeroburning.ca & www.durhamenvironmentwatch.org &
Nova Scotia, Ministry of the Environment
www.gov.ns.ca/nse/waste/

The BIG PIPE & Odour Control Facility
Councillor Littley’s comments at the Aug 29th “Stop the Stink” & “Big Pipe” Rally; “With the threat of Climate Change and increased stress on our water resources imminent, it is very unfortunate that decisions made to go forward with the BIG PIPE have been made so long ago without reconsideration. Technologies have advanced significantly, and other options are available. York may have developers with subdivisions ready to go, but it is governments' job to look after the long-term public interest. It's time to take a step back and re-evaluate the options and newest technologies for solutions that would be sustainable long into the future.”
York held public information forums in May & July to address the relocation of the “Big Pipe’s” Odour Control Facility on York’s side of the York-Durham Line. Pickering Council & Residents are not satisfied with this location. Stay tuned - One Hot Topic!

For info & comment on the Environmental Assessment see: www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/eaab/projects/yorkdurham_secollector.htm