After attending last night's CAW public infomation session on the "Energy to Waste" (INCINERATION) issue, I left the building with an array of feelings.
First, there was the renewed observation that we were only being given a sanitized version of the facts surrounding energy-from-waste, thermal waste treatment, incineration or whatever you want to call it. It's all the same thing - burning garbage. Burning toxic materials. Emitting cancer causing dioxins, furans, toxic metals - nano-particulates that are so tiny they not only get into your lungs, they cross the membranes into your blood and travel through your body. They also get into our food - dairy products, meat, chicken, fish, fruits, vegetables. No, these are not "zero emission" facilities. They contribute to smog, asthma; the list goes on and on.
We also learned that these trips to Europe are designed for one thing - to pull the wool over the eyes of those being told that this is the same technology and we would have the same "clean" emissions they have over there. Hogwash! What our politicians are not told is that they are not burning the same materials we will be burning here. Their emissions are not the same as those here. And the emissions in the European countries - although cleaner than ours will be - are still dangerous. But going to view the European incinerators yet again and thinking that they can compare apples to oranges is a waste of time and money. North American incinerators would be more worthwhile to view, if they must be viewed.
How about the Brampton facility? It's not nearly so "clean" as we've been led to believe by the consultants. Are all our regional councillors (and chair) willing to go through that facility without masks? Or with the plain paper masks given to the workers? Are they willing to spend a few hours there, in the midst of the toxic dust? It should be a requirement prior to deciding on "thermal treatment" of our waste. A few hours on a *typical* day at the incineration plant. If they are all so convinced it is totally safe, then why not? Not only our regional councillors, but the little excursion should also include Premier McGuinty, who says there are "no emissions" from incinerators and they are so safe that we don't even need a full EA. They can/should now be fast-tracked. Oh yes, and the consultants, who are the same ones used for all the municipalities who have contemplated or are contemplating incineration. They should also be made to spend the day in the Brampton plant sans protection.
I was disgusted by the fact that our own Mayor made the foolish decision to attend a regular monthly meeting of the Museum Board rather than attend this one-time opportunity to hear "the other side of the story" from experts who gave fascinating, factual presentations that I guarantee you, NO ONE slept through! This just shows how important our Mayor considers this issue. His mind is made up and he won't open it to valid information that turns much of the myth we've been fed on it's ear. I've been told he was not only invited to this public forum, but contacted by numerous people who practically begged him to attend. Someone in a comment said they were so angry they could spit. I couldn't agree more. This Mayor obviously has a serious problem with "priorities". This is not the first time he has shown his lack of judgement, and it won't be his last. This is sad for Clarington.
At least Councillors Novak and Trim were present, as they are the other 2/3 of Clarington's representation at the Region. I hope they will give serious thought to what they heard and received as much of an education as the rest of us did last night. I also hope they will take the opportunity to investigate how Markham has gotten to a 70% diversion rate in 2 years - that's a city of 300,000 people! And they are aiming for 75% diversion by next year, and zero waste (or darn close to it) by 2020. Now those are sustainable goals we should all be aspiring to. Did you hear that, Durham Region???? Thank you to Councillors Novak and Trim for taking the time to attend, as well as local Councillor Hooper.
Of the 30% waste left in garbage in Markham now, they found that 27% are items which could be donated, 31% is organics (composting will take care of that), 19% is recyclable paper (shredded paper, etc), and that leaves 17% (of the 30%) as "residual waste". That leaves very little to be disposed of, and those rates can be brought down even more with other such as EPR incentives which I'll get into in future posts.
Suffice it to say that there ARE other alternatives. Durham Region came to a hasty conclusion that Thermal Treatment was the only way to go - the most desirable option in ridding ourselves of waste. They are dead wrong. But have they spent too much and gone too far to back off and consider other options as they have repeatedly been asked by residents to do?
What has happened to "democracy" when we are forced to go in a direction most people don't want to go? Why would they make a decision on a technology and not even consider the other options? Options that would not only be safer and healthier for all of us, but also would be less expensive, would create a lot more jobs, and enable us to be leaders in an industry who's time has come.
I've only touched the surface today, but will continue with much more information in the days to come. We can only hope that our politicians will open their eyes and smell the garbage.
Thank you to CAW Durham Region Environmental Council for arranging this public forum, and especially to Paul Connett, PhD, John Jackson, board member of Waste Diversion Ontario, and Erin Shapiro, Markham Ward Councillor for an outstanding evening of information and education. More on these excellent presentations in future posts.
Anyone who has the opportunity to hear these speakers at any time in the future MUST make the effort to attend and learn. You will not be disappointed.
Thank you also to the Clarington councillors and the 8 Regional Councillors who attended. At least a few of you care enough to continue your education on incineration and other options available to us. It is appreciated by Durham residents. We do notice who is and who is not there. And we won't forget.
Albert Einstein:
"A clever person solves a problem. A genius avoids it."
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I too attended the (real) information session hosted by the CAW in Oshawa on Wed. evening. It was an extremely informative meeting with excellent speakers. The CAW moderator made it abundantly clear that the Region was invited to participate as was the Premier's office and the highly paid consultants for the Region and all refussed to attend. What a sad commentary on our leaders. Fortunately, we'll have a Provincial election next fall, and we'll get a chance to tell Mr. McGuinty and his cohorts what we think of their term of broken promises and about things like this horid incinerator.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was good to see our two Reginal Councillors (Trim and Novak)in attendance, but I noted that Trim left right after the presentations and didn't bother to wait around to hear the questions from the audience. At least Novak had the decency to stay.
My main point however, is to state how really poor it was of our new Mayor, Mr. Abernethy not to attend. I heard more than one comment about "where was our Mayor?" As a Clarington resident and taxpayer, I was disgusted that he was not there and in fact, embarrased that he chose to stay away from the people. In my estimation, at least 50+% of the people in attendance were from Clarington: shame on you Mayor Abernethy! We will remember.
There were a lot of people asking quite openly where our Mayor was. The word was he made an excuse and already has his mind made up so doesn't care to hear the facts about incineration that are not being presented by those consultants. That the region refused to attend and refused to let staff or consultants be there to defend their position speaks volumes, doesn't it? What are they afraid of? Even Anderson didn't bother to show up.
ReplyDeleteI was very impressed with Markham's goals and accomplishments in recycling, reusing, and their resource recovery programs. Why can't Durham Region go that route instead of polluting MORE instead of less? What an original thought!
ReplyDeleteWhy won't our council look at increasing diversion as Markham is doing, and setting goals similar to theirs? Are they putting their heads in the sand? It's a much better and more sustainable solution than incineration.
ReplyDeleteAnd the amount of energy used to burn the garbage will wipe out any benefit of energy produced. Why can't they see the facts? Tunnel vision, they name is Durham Region!
Why was Abernethy in Tampa Bay looking at incineration? Where did the money come from? He said he would not take any trips on the taxpayer?
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