HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 5, 1992 (Special)
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SPECIAL COUNCIL lfINUTES
A Special Meeting of the Pickering Town Council
Wednesday, August 5, 1992 at 10:15 a.m.
was held on
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This Special Meeting of Council was called in reference to the
Interim Waste Authority's site search for a landfill site in
Durham Region.
PRESENT:
Mayor Wayne Arthurs
COUNCILLORS :
Brenner
Higdon
Johnson
Wellman
ALSO PRESENT:
N.C. Marshall
B. Taylor
N. Carroll
T. Sheffield
S. Vokes
D. Kirby
J. Wiseman
- Town Manager
- Town Clerk
- Director of Planning
- Town Solicitor
- Director of Public Works
- Letterman and Associates
- MPP
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ABSENT:
Councillor Pistritto - (Vacation)
Councillor Van Kempen - (Business)
Mayor Arthurs stated that the purpose of this Special Meeting is
for Members of Council to get information from the Interim Waste
Authority on landfill sites. He noted that there are public
forums and a local office for residents to get information.
Conrad Gelot of the Interim Waste Authority and Gary Komar of
M.M. Dillon made a presentation to Council on the search for a
landfill site in the Region of Durham.
Conrad Gelot gave an overview of the process and mandate used by
the Interim Waste Authority and explained their approach to the
problem of finding a landfill site. He explained how sites were
identified in Pickering and noted that a preferred site will
hopefully be selected by the spring of 1993 and this site will
be subject to a government review and environmental assessment
hearings.
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Gary Komar explained in more detail the process for the search
for a landfill site and noted that approximately 250 acres is
needed for a landfill site in Durham. The Information Centre on
Kingston Road is open every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and
they have a toll free number for telephone inquiries. They will
be accepting briefs from interested groups until tomorrow.
Marion Thomas stated that the McLaren Report excluded federal
and provincial lands until the very end of its search probably
because of hydrogeological problems. She asked how much test
drilling has been carried out by M.M. Dillon and Gary Komar
responded that drilling will not take place until Step 5 of the
search process.
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David Ryan asked that given that the study team has a high level
of expertise, do they accept the data on waste reduction in the
future that is based on 1986 statistics. Gary Komar answered in
the affirmative.
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Charlie Smith stated that the Ministry of Agriculture has
problems understanding the concept of urban shadow. Gary Komar
responded that he has met with representatives of that Ministry
and they clearly understand the concept.
An unidentified man asked why some abandoned gravel pits in the
north are not used as landfill sites. Gary Komar responded that
gravel pits were screened out for reasons other than cost.
An unidentified woman asked if previous drilling tests will be
used. Gary Komar said they would be only if they are consistent
with their tests and criteria.
Lloyd Thomas stated that the Seaton lands should not be
considered part of the urban shadow because they cannot be
used. Gary Komar responded that these lands are being
considered because they intend to use the lands for something
other than agriculture.
Richard Ward asked how important the Taunton-Steeles
interconnection is in priori zing the various landfill sites.
Gary Komar responded that all major roads will be looked at.
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Mr. Andrew Blackwell, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of the
Environment, addressed Council with respect to the provincial
Governments's position on the export and incineration of waste.
Although there are technical concerns about incineration and
export, the policies on how this affects waste reduction is more
important. The goal is to reduce waste by 50% by 2000 and 25%
by 1992. With respect to incineration, energy from waste is a
big business and may be too strong a lobby group. He noted that
ash from an incinerator must still be sent to a landfill site.
All effort must be put into recycling, reduction and reuse and
composting systems and incineration will destroy some of the
material that is needed for recycling. Recycling firms that
must compete with other recycling firms will become more
efficient than if they have to compete with an incinerator. By
prohibiting incineration, manufacturers are forced to make their
product more recyclable and Ontario stands to be a leader in
recycling and composting systems. The export of garbage would
open up a Province wide site search that would take many years
to complete and a "willing host" community will make that
community dependent on people using as much garbage as possible.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:13 p.m.
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Clerk
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