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wp 8-- Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday , N¢ b p-| EDITORIAL Dump decision Like most other people in Scugog Township, we were pleased last Friday morning to learn that the Interim Waste Authority (IWA) had taken this municipality "out of the running" in its search for a huge landfill site to serve Durham Region. Last June, the IWA had identified five potential sites on the so-called "long list," much to the dismay and utter horror of those who live on or near one of these sites. They waited anxiously for almost six months before getting the good news last Friday morning. However, as members of PEST and Zero Garbage, the citizens groups that formed to fight against a dump site, have been pointing out since last Friday morning, the danger is not quite over yet. Until the IWA has identified its preferred site, conducted all the hearings under the Envir tal A t Act, fought the inevitable court challenges and actually gets a garbage dump "up and operating," there is always a chance, albeit a remote one, that one or more of the sites in Scugog could come up for re-consideration. While many people in this Township heaved a big sigh of relief, there was no sense of "victory." Four of the five "short list" sites surround the tiny hamlet of Whitevale in rural Pickering, so it is easy to imagine the nightmare that home owners and farmers there are experiencing right now. The other site is in Newcastle, north of Highway 2. This dump-site search has raised numerous questions over the last couple of years, and especially so when the long list was made public last.June. How could the IWA even consider one of the Scugog sites for a place to put over six million tonnes of trash. The five sites are excellent farmland, are actively farmed in some cases for several generations, Some are near sensitive wetlands that drain into Lake Scugog; one of the sites has a magnificent heritage home built in the 1840's. LE - Certainly, anyone with even a passing familiarity with any of these five sites, had to wonder why and how they came to be on the IWA's long list last June. One had to wonder about this "process." However, it appears as if the "process" worked as the IWA's ranking of these five sites put them well down on the list of 17. The two sites near Blackstock were ranked 14 and 15 on the list, while the two sites on Highway 12 south of Manchester wound up with a ranking of ten. One of the sites, L7, didn't even get a ranking by the IWA. The work of the two citizens groups, PEST (Preserve the Envi t of Scugog T hip) and Zero Garbage, must not pass un-noticed. They submitted detailed briefs to the IWA on why the sites are not suitable and also raised the question of tourism and the economic impact a major dump would have on this important Township industry. And q the citi groups over the last few months have done much to increase public awareness not only on the issue of landfills, but for the need for new directions in how society handles its waste. Reducing the amount of garbage we produce is the real answer to the landfill issue. Now that the danger of a landfill in Scugog has all but disappeared, we trust the people of the Township will not lose interest in reduction. There is.simply no room for an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. : Finally, it is still difficult to accept that the IWA manda does not include an examination of alternate methods of TH an 43 AES = Nouse oF M~NEY MX PrN he » LETTERS To THE EDITOR Thanks to all involved To the Editor: I can't express how happy I am that Scugog does not have a site on the Interim Waste Authority's short list for a garbage dump for Durham Region. Although the fight is not yet : over, (the landfill site selection or the fight for garbage reduction) at least we have had a reprieve. For the first time in six months, I am able to look out my window without worrying that a dump might be across the street. If nothing else, this brought together the community of Scugog as a whole and I met wonderful people and neighbours. It also brought to the forefront the garbage crisis Victory won +» To The Editor: Scugog dodged the bullet in the landfill site showdown. We are immediately relieved and elated particularly we are happy for those whose homes and livelihood hung in limbo while the process agonized on. What a relief for them, a relief for the whole township. - Our elation is tempered with the knowledge that the waste disposal such as incineration or "export" away from the heavily populated area of Metro and surrounding regions, an area, by the way, that just happens to have some of the finest farmland in the province. Incineration and/or "export" may not have a place in P was not stopped and a better solution to landfilling has not yet been seriously undertaken. Zero Garbage and PEST are not going to dissolve because of this seeming and the need to implement the 3 R's more effectively. As a side note, the bers Esso, Paulmac's Pet Foods, Mark's Car Care, Meryl of PEST would like to thank the following people for all their assistance and support: all those who helped the PEST/Zero Garbage fund- raising dance including the Kinsmen Club, Peter Kneale, Port Perry Arena Board, Cannington Lions, Port Perry Printing, Ira' Carr Construction and Bridgeport Signs. Those who donated prizes: Haugens Restaurant, Hoskin Stables, Port Perry Tennis Club, Stella Amero, Stables at Greystone, Emiels, Floral Expressions, Jim Byers of SCOPE, Belleview ian Centre, Blackstock lof t dissolve lo Hei Jerry B of Speedy Auto Glass, Dominion Canada Insurance, International Barter Network, Country Convenience Store, Kurz Meats, Golden Griddle, Bill Lishman and Colin Kemp. There are others as well: Lynn Loughlin and Tot Holtby for the bake sale; Ray Davidson of Ray's Signs, Pineridge Sports and countless others who provided their help and support in any way they could. Yours truly, Maureen Hall, Scugog Township. cal groups to those p of our ng consumer society. From the start we have realized that we either have to find ways to curb our production of garbage or we are going to have a continuing threat of landfill after landfill. During the 3 yr. process which the Cartwright community was threatened we made submission after submission on better ideas for waste reduction & elimination and we will continue to do so. While we breathe easier here in Scugog our friends in Whitevale & Newtonville have a much darker cloud hanging Zero Garbage & PEST at a joint executive meeting Saturday passed a motion to write the groups in those threatened communities. We offer them our support in attempting to stop the IWA process and bring about better solutions to the garbage crises than landfills. Scugog has had a near miss, an inoculation that has strengthened the community and brought to our front door the seriousness ®f the garbage overload that we all must solving the garbage crisis, but the provincial government | victory. The black cloud that over them. There, but for the continue to address. should at least take a strong look at these options to landfill. has hung over us has greatly grace of the IWA go we, and we William Lishman aided in opening our eyes to extend our sincerest sympathy Zero Garbage/Scugog OCNA Member CCNA Member The Scugog Citizen, an independently owned and operated weekly paper, is del free of charge to 10,000 homes and businesses in and around Scugog Township. Subscriptions sold outside Scugog. published by Scugog Citizen Publishing Ltd. co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis editor : John B. McClelland advertising manager : Valerie Ellis advertising sales : Chris Hudson general manager : Darlene Hlozan office reception : Carrie Maciver feature writer : Heather McCrae "Proud Canadians proud to call Scugog Township home." : CCNA BETROVAN COM uA » 36 WATER ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1jJ2 Phone : (416) 985-6397 Fax: (416) 985-1410