Zero Waste Simcoe for higher waste diversion goals

The following news release has been issued by Zero Waste Simcoe
ZWS Chair Gord McKay comments on final Simcoe Solid Waste Management Strategy report
On Tuesday June 22nd, 2010 the Simcoe County Waste Strategy Steering Committee completed its work. The final document, prepared by Stantec Consulting Ltd, recommends how Simcoe County should be dealing with its waste over the next 20 years. The new waste strategy will affect every resident of the County.

Zero Waste Simcoe was pleased to participate in the Committee and inject the Zero Waste perspective. “I know the Committee listened to what we had to say” said Gord McKay, Chair of Zero Waste Simcoe. “The final document has incorporated a lot of Zero Waste methods.”
While positive about much of the document, Zero Waste Simcoe voted against its acceptance.
“The document has many options that could lead us towards Zero Waste. However, it limits that initiative by setting a 77% diversion target by 2030. Twenty years from now we will still be generating 50,000 tonnes of garbage a year. If we set stretch targets and actively engage the residents of Simcoe County, we can move more rapidly towards Zero Waste. ZWS appreciates the waste realities faced by the County. We are prepared to work with the County to help achieve that higher target.” [Gord Mckay] The strategy addresses the full range of operational issues required to manage the County’s waste, including:
-New methods for waste reduction and reuse – a significant recognition of ZW philosophy
-A variety of tools to improve recycling efforts. The Blue Box will continue to be at the centre of the -County’s efforts
-Consideration to building a centralized composting facility
-Deferral of the decision to build a waste processing facility, to see what other options may become available
-Use of landfill and garbage export for short term disposal, while providing stand-by landfill capacity for future needs
“Zero Waste changes the way we generate our waste and what we do with it at the end of its useful life. Its implementation will take decades. The recommended strategy can start us down that road. We hope to continue to work with the County to move down that road as quickly as possible.” [Gord Mckay]