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iLandfill could last 10 years longer thanks to recycling By HOWARD MOZEL Special ta The Champion As proud as the ýRegion of Halton is of its waste diversion and recycling, officiais are the first to focus credit on those residents who have made the programs successful. After ail, without the people who act*e1y partici- pate in these initiatives, Halton would be unable to boast a 37 per cent diversion rate. And now, witb homeowners fully backing the Region's new Solid Waste Management Strategy, this figure is expected to jump to 58 per cent. (The provin- cial guideline is 50 per cent.) By doing so, the life expectancy of Halton's landfill site is pmojected to grow from 37 years to 47. "Residents of Halton are very keen about saving their Iandfill site," said planning and public works spokesman John Smith. "We're talking about generations from now before we bave to worry about what we're going to do with our waste." The current Waste Management System reduces and recovers approximately 37 per cent of waste that usually requires disposai and as such it is the most successful programn in the Greater Toronto Ares. Mr. Smitb explained tbe main reasons for tbat are recycling (broadened 10 years ago to include spart- ments and townbouses) and tbe yard waste diversion prograin. House bazardous waste diversion accounts for 1 pcr cent of tbe total. To belp formulate the Solid Waste Management Strategy, tbe region bosted community meetings and distributed a strategy overview and survey to residents asking for tbeir ideas and comments. Tbe "phenomenal" response, said regional spokesperson Lynn Jobns, was tbat 92 per cent of The Canadien chanp-an, Tuesday, December 7.,1999-4 respondents supported the new plan. "Residents can feel very proud that tbey're the ones making tbis bappen," she said. Added regional Chair Joyce Savoline, "l'm over- wbelmed bow many people buy into tbings wben tbey understand it and tbe legacy it leaves for the future." The new strategy, approved by regional council in October, builds on the current system by providing residents witb tbe tools and information necessary to reduce tbe waste tbey generate and maximize the effi- ciencies of current reduction programs sucb as Blue Box and Housebold Hazardous Waste. The new strategy's initiatives-include thc WasteLess programi to minimize the waste people generate before it's placed curbaide for collection. 'BlueMax' will investigate ways to maximize exist- ing recycling programs. The Region is also examining the effectiveness of collecting and composting bouse- bold organico (kitchen scraps, etc.) as a tbird waste stream. For the time being, tbe strategy rejects applying user fees for garbage or developing an 'Energy From Waste' incinerator. Tbese options will be considered only if proposed metbods fail to meet intended targets. HICU H AR SUGN CHEVRG1LT-ODSMGDILE ÔHOLIDAY. RATED REAK O: 099%/ Most 99a moies up to 48 Months No. MONET DOWN *O.A.C. See sales rep for details 47bkib &« gbua carortruck SALE HOUS SEVICEHOUAS Mon-Thurs . U.... l> M Mon.-Fi ....... O it4 FrMdy ........ f Tues .......fm*m PURCHASE FINANCIN INTEREST FOR 1.9%/ Most 2000 moies up ta 48 Months No PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS -on Sisolsi moe 90 DAYS * RicaRDSGUN CHEVROLE9T-OLDSMGBILE NE HWY. 25 S. AT DERRY RD., MILTON 'I