Council balks at push to cutback Diversion Days

By Brad Pritchard Barrie Advance Jul 27, 2012

ADJALA-TOSORONTIO – The County of Simcoe has backed down on its proposal to reduce Diversion Days hours in Adjala-Tosorontio to change it to a half-day event.

The idea was proposed in a recent email sent to the municipality by County of Simcoe director of solid waste management Rob McCullough.

He pointed out that attendance rates at the events in May and June were lower than previous years, and that perhaps a shorter schedule should be considered for next year.

The proposed change in hours comes as the county looks to allocate money for its 2013 operating budget, he said.

But after further discussing with the municipality, the county has abandoned the idea.

“The county is going to leave it open,” said Adjala-Tosorontio Mayor Tom Walsh, who along with his wife Mary, has been closely involved with the event since its inception. “They realize it’s more of a community event. People like to come together for dinner and have a drink. A lot of them come for the enjoyment.”

The event, which happens once per month from May to September at the County’s transfer station on Concession Road 4 near Loretto, is held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event allows residents to drop of bulky items like furniture, appliances, electronics and various construction materials, which are given away for free to any would-be takers. Anything left over is dropped off to local charities.

“It’s great for people with kids going to college who need furniture,” Walsh said.

To date the program has been very successful, with over 30,000 tons of waste diverted from landfills since it started 12 years ago.

While the attendance numbers for this year’s first two events were lower than normal, Walsh said the one held this month was much busier.

Other than having one staff member on site, Walsh said there isn’t any real cost for the county since everything else is organized by volunteers.

The township, which prides itself on the program, expressed its opposition to the change at this month’s council meeting.

Council passed a resolution stating the township’s objection to the change. In the resolution, the township describes the event as “an essential part of waste reduction” and serves as a means of “bringing the community together and providing leadership to the entire County.”