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Wednesday August 1989 Page Were all responsible for the environment By MARION Herald EDITORS NOTE Marion Kester is a Georgetown resident current at the University of Waterloo She will graduate next year with a bachelor of en studies degree together with a bachelor of science degree In biology For months now we ve witnessed the slow meaningless death of thousands of birds fish and mam on our television screens as a result of human error We watch in anguish and frustration as clean up crews in Alaska battle to salvage that corner of the planet I too found myself cursing at those responsible for such hideous crimes against the environment However out of this frustration stems the realization that I am also responsible to a lesser degree than the Alaskan oil spill for the state of our environment Each time I flush drain cleaner down the toilet purchase items in aerosol containers or throw par tially empty paint cans out with the garbage I am inadvertently destroying the environment For far too long I have rationalized these actions by using phrases like this little bit won make a dif ference this phrase is quite popular and we are now fore ed to confront issues such as from landfill sites escap ing into our drinking water as well as large tracks of land unavailable for development due to high levels of toxic chemicals in their soils Fortunately though out of over such l sues comes the choice and willingness to do something about them We have the opportunity to better the en starting from within our own homes As we are aware our households are producers of toxic wastes The average Canadian household pro duces 20 to litres of hazardous waste each year Hazardous wastes prevalent the home in elude oven cleaners bleaches garden pesticides paints lacquer drain cleaners furniture polish antifreeze gasoline used oil bat and glues What do we do with these wastes Most people throw them down the drain or put them out with their garbage at the curb to be picked up and disposed of in a land fill or incinerated The most common method of hazardous waste disposal is dump ing it down the drain Liquids disposed of in this manner usually end up in and eventually lakes where we derive our drinking water from initially This means that our drinking water now con taminated We often justify this with the myth that municipal sewage treatment plants will filter these wastes Not so Municipal sewage treatment plants are not designed to destroy most hazar dous chemicals In essence many of these hazardous wastes once they leave our home remain just that hazardous The second method of disposal is Studies show that disposing of waste in a landfill ac counts For a substantial portion of a dump It is estimated that a municipality with households deposits two million litres of household hazardous wastes into its landfill each year Imagine the amount of hazardous waste a landfill site with a lifespan of 20 years Eventually these wasted which mix with other garbage leak out contaminating ground and surface water The S Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 8 litres of gasoline is all that is necessary to contaminate a million gallons of groundwater to a degree table taste and smell Finally hazardous household wastes burned in incinerators escape through the stacks resulting in air contamination as well as fallout of toxic substances finding their way to land and water Another important factor to keep in mind is the potential injury to those who must pick up household hazardous waste at the curbside Injuries suffered by workers handling garbage include perma blindness scarring from bums and breathing difficulties As mentioned we have the op portunity to implement some significant changes in our dealings with household hazardous waste through the use of alternatives The most effective way of avoiding the household hazardous waste problem is by substituting non hazardous or less hazardous products for hazardous ones you use Here are a few examples Us uig a toilet brush with baking soda and a mild detergent eliminates the need for toilet cleaner Disinfectant can be replaced with ml of borax combined with four litres of water A mixture of vinegar salt and water can be us For All Your Fine China Silver Crystal Glftwar MAIN ST MILTON SPECIALS Tasty Recipes CHOPPED DATES CAROLINA COLESLAW WRAPPED CANDIES 1 large cabbage trimmed quartered Perfect Travel Sweets 1 medium tweet green pepper cored end chopped fine medium peeled and chopped fine MESSING k CAKE DECORATORS ARE YOU STILL GOING tip celery seeds OUT OF TOWN FOR f cup cider vinegar cup YOUR SUPPLIES CHECK US OUT FIRST With sharp knife sice each cabbage quarter very tine combine with green pepper onion and carrot large bowl and lots to mix 92 MAIN ST S Mix sugar salt mustard and celery seeds in small saucepan add vinegar and oil and let come to boil over heat sUrring unlit sugar dissolves Pour over cabbage and toss well Cent then cover and refrigerate until ready o serve or PHONE 877 WILT0N I99U YEARROOK NOW IN This gels better longer it in the refrigerator Serves to 8 ea fjs s ed as window cleaner Floor and furn polishes can be replaced using a mixture of one part lemon with two parts olive or vegetable oil Oil based paints should be replaced with water based paints The latter are less toxic and eliminates the need to use tine and thinners while Most importantly don t purchase more than you need to do the job This avoids left over unused items such as paints from piling up Recycling hazardous waste is also effective Car batteries can be traded in or given to service sta or recyclers Also you could exchange or give unwanted materials to neighbors who will use them however make certain that the contents in their original container so that the new owner will know the hazards ac companying the product It is also important that dous wastes be used up rather than throwing them out However if you need to dispose of containers with liquids it is wise to mix it with a container of soil or kitty litter un til it is completely absorbed Then dispose of the mixture in a sealed container with other household garbage Entire communities across the province have tackled the problem of safe handling and disposal of household hazardous waste days The Regions of Waterloo and Toronto due to public demand have designated a few days the fall and spring as times for people to bring their hazardous wastes to a particular site where trained per sonnel collect package and dispose of the waste properly These are referred to as Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days and as of March the provincial government has distnbuted grants to communities interested in set ting up such a program Several regions support an ongo ing special waste collection site Instead of only operating twice a year these facilities operate on a year round basis Household hazardous waste produced in Halton Region can be disposed of in the Burlington depot located off Appleby Line on Ironside Drive This depot is open times a year and the specific dates can be ob tained by calling the Halton Hills Public Works Department The depot has a 10 litre limit per household and is operated by Ac tive Mobile Services The Town will also pick up empty paint cans with the lids removed if they are placed with the regular garbage Through the use of alternatives as well as the safe handling and disposal of hazardous waste we can directly limit the negative mi pacts on our environment The time has come to consider on a global scale the effect we have on our surroundings As a result of ra and ignorance regar ding household hazardous wastes we must now all become en vironmentalists Town will rent Meadowglen field The Town of Halton Hills will pay almost 500 for the next months to use a soccer field at the Meadowglen Mushroom site north of Georgetown The town signed a fiveyear lease with the Mushroom Growers new proper ty owners Milran Developments The town recenth lost use of a Sinclair Avenue sports field when grading began on the site The new lease will cost the town 500 for the rest of 1989 and 2 900 for 1990 The remaining costs will be added into future budgets The town will have the use of the Meadowglen soccer field and the adjoining parking lot for recreational sports events OFF ENTIRE STOCK Includes orders Yarn Collector Plates Notions Giftware Capidomonte Jewellery Music Boxes products excluded SALE ENDS AUGUST Hit HANDCRAFTS and GIFTS Mill St East ACTON 8531220 Sussmans Famous SAVE 50 OFF On entire Spring Summer stock in our TWO LADIES WEAR STORES Sussmans For Her and Casually Yours Sussmans Too SAVE 10 OFF FAiiSSwvAis OPEN Fridays 99 JMAIN STREET ARTHUR