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PAGE 2, WMFIY FREE PRESS, WEDNESD§IAÉ,JÙL4CÉWËÊÈR 26, 1990 Fine Ladysl' Cýothiers Hwy. 12 Broolin, 655-3474. Thurs.' & Fni. Evening lours MIh 8;pm. UptO Off W irI.tiei IF.àX-Xtiie St~~kL Corne E«arly For Best Seectiori SALE 0F T1E SEASON m DON'T MISS MT! Public education urged. Bugelli concerned about'mis-use of h ome Compost units By Mke Kowaluld A Whitby councillor is worried about potential abuse of a home cornposting program promoted by Councillor Joe Bugelli teld Town council recently that a public education prograrn is needed te prevent people frorn misusing home cornposting units. Warning that an incorrectlY used composter will become a haven for vermin and produce offensive odors, Bugelli said in- struction on proper maintenance of the units is needed before problema develop. "Tm not knocking the idea but let's move slowly and address possible problems before' they beone real ones, said'Bugelli. Bugell.s comments came prior to counicil approving the expan- sion of Durham ]Region's home composting program. to Whitby. According, to a staff report, the Region initiated a pilot project involving 60 homes in the Town of Newcastle ini 1989. The project'examined the effec- tiveness and . potential waste reduction impact of- backyard composters. The four-month program found that householda were able to divert about one-third of their total residential waste each month. >Based on the pilot project's success, the Reg*i approved the purchase of 0100units for Pickerig residents earlier this year. The program bas now been expanded to include residents in Witby and Ajax. Councillor Marcel Brunelle, a member of the Region's waste reduction committee, spokLe glow- Wy si pub lic acceptance of the prograin could resuit in Sig- nificant savings to, both the ]Rego and its taxpayers. e«Fully one-third of Whitby's waste is compostable," said Brunelle. Based on tip pn ees now charged the Rgîonfor dumping its garbage Brunelle predicted a' savmnqs 0 40000. «This would mean $16.50 for every household i Whitby» said Brunelle. "The message -should be to, purchase one of these com- posters.» He listed three benefits of com- postera if horneowners partici- pate in the prograrn. «Taxes wilL.go down, there will be additionai svings in adminis- trative _ai labor costs (from collecting 1dss garbage) and you'l have some mighty fine material (fertilizer) te, work with».» Bugelli, however,. was not about te embrace the program at firat glanoe.e1 «What about problerna with odors from these units it's not the most pleasant smehl at the best of times,»- said Bu li; «What happens if theyre flot properly maintained? What about the. rodent factor?" he asked.. Mayor Bob Attersley Wsaorne of the same concerne raised by Bugelli have been eipressed by local residents. AttersleY said staff were in- structed to examine which bylaws maty be applicable in dealing with potentialproblems. -Conceding that these were «legitirnate concerne", Brunelle pleaded with council not 'te dis- missethe program's overaîl value because of problems which have yet to, arise. "There is a proper method of doing it, it can be done so you don't annoy your neighbors," said Bruinelle. "The answer is education. I don't think anyone intentionally sets out te be a bad neigliboUr," he added.