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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 5, 1992 (Special) 20/92 125 SPECIAL COUNCIL lfINUTES A Special Meeting of the Pickering Town Council Wednesday, August 5, 1992 at 10:15 a.m. was held on 8 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 8 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. 8 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. ¡¡,:¡. 20/92 126 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. 8 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. 8 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. 8 ~~~. "- Clerk '~'ii ""