County to consult on trash issue

County to consult on trash issue
By Raymond Bowe Barrie Examiner October 28, 2009
Simcoe County is ratcheting up the pressure in how it deals with trash.
The county has hired Stantec Consulting to develop long-term ways to handle garbage, one of the most contentious issues for councillors in recent months, including stepping away from controversial landfill Site 41.
Capacity issues at county landfills have forced politicians to find new and better ways to deal with garbage, but the strategy must be “logical, practical and attainable,” according to a corporate services committee report.
“This is a very positive step forward for the county,” Oro-Medonte Township Mayor Harry Hughes said. “We have to move ahead with this rather rapidly. We can’t sit around.”
The plan will deal with everything from identifying issues to educating the public, as well as diversion and waste-management needs. A draft should be prepared by April, with the final document anticipated to be in councillors’ hands in July.
The plan includes forming a new waste management subcommittee, which will take an “aggressive” approach, said Simcoe County Warden Tony Guergis.
The subcommittee will focus on principles touted by Zero Waste Simcoe, including the reduction of commercial packaging.
“This is a crisis,” Clearview Township Mayor Ken Ferguson said. “If we need to meet weekly, we’ll meet weekly. But the public has to buy into this.
“This is the best thing I’ve seen in 10 to 15 years,” he added. “Don’t muddle it up with process.”
A steering committee — including representatives from the Adjala-Tosorontio Ratepayers’ Association, Zero Waste Simcoe and the public — will also be struck. In addition, there will also be three spots open to be filled by people from other area waste authorities, the cities of Orillia and Barrie, First Nations, as well as the provincial and federal governments.
Tiny Township Mayor Peggy Breckenridge said the subcommittee should satisfy the needs of the public. She asked for, and received with council’s approval, more public representation on the subcommittee.
Councillors have yet to approve the allotted $150,000 being requested for the new subcommittee. It will be an item for discussion during 2010 budget deliberations.
Questions remain, too, surrounding the specifics of terms of reference for the committee, and who members will report to and how often.
“I’d like to see more details about the mechanics before I support it,” Oro-Medonte Township Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough said.
Some councillors questioned the need for the subcommittee, because garbage is already handled by waste management committee and corporate services.
Midland Deputy Mayor Ruth Hackney said the waste management committee “already has a handle on matters.”