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the HERALD Page Environment Sunday Januarys 1992 There is time to keep our planet healthy By BARBARA IIALSALL Herald Special As the New Year arrives many examine their lives to see what changes they would make Dieting for weight loss and exer else are two things that are near the top of the list as many realize the importance of health We also need to consider the health of the planet There was a man who became ill not all at once but little by lit tie he was more and more tired and he found it more difficult to breathe On his first trip to the doctor nothing was discovered but as time went on the doctor had to admit that something was wrong Unable to make a diagnosis the family doctor referred the man to a specialist and from there to another specialist and still a third specialist but no one could say ex actly what the problem was or how to cure it Finally the man was told that this seemed to be something the medical profession had never seen before The last specialist said to the man We have no cure so you must ex amine your lifestyle to be as kind to your body as possible Smoking is out and you must cut out all junk food and eat the most nutritious diet you can put together Take time off work and spend at least half of your day m bed This man refused to come to grips with the problem He car on smoking took no time off work and continued with his favorite junk food diet Because he did not deteriorate quickly he felt that his lifestyle was not a factor in his fatigue and breathing problems Five years from the original problems this man died after a long and painful illness Could he have changed the course of his ll lness We will never know but he might have had a better chance The human race is like that man right now aware that something is not right but in a state of denial People think sure those environmentalists are the problems Or for a few the problems are too big to takcle so denial is better But we still have time Madame who chaired the World Commission On Environment and Develop ment writes in the to Preserving Our World Major changes are crucial We have the ability to change We have the technology We have the com munication skills The work must begin with individuals in our homes and villages We must marshal public will reaching to the decision making chambers of government to our international institutions and to our tional boardrooms Let no one tell you to mind your own business Survival is everyone business What resolution Will you make to preserve the health of the planet When this ecosystem dies we die with it but you can make a difference Your first resolution Be sure to get your letter for Ruth Gncr into POWER They must be in her hands by POWER will deliver luaol Hazardous wastes can also be found in the home cotton diapers professionally cleaned Pick up and delivery twice per week Have yoor own diapers We do those too TOO BUSY TO SEW Let Roberta do it 8533949 11 Main SIS felon By CHRISTINE Ontario Waste Management Corporation Hazardous wastes are most often associated with tunng processes but industry t the only culprit The Ontario Waste Management Corporation estimates that households in this province generate tonnes of paint pesticides used oil bat toxic cleansers and other potentially harmful wastes every year Some of these nasties are being stored in basements garages and under kitchen sinks But a lot of them unfortunately for our en vironment are being poured down drains and put out with the Many municipalities are holding special waste days in an effort to cut down on the amount of hazardous waste going into landfills These events are partly funded by provincial government grants As of November 53 municipalities had received grants to hold waste days in 1991 says Dennis a project officer with the environment ministry The grants of up to 15 a year cover part of the costs of ing a waste management com to sort pack haul and dispose of the wastes Then there are the additional expenses of renting a site buying or renting safety equipment and paying in surance and salaries On average a waste day will end up costing taxpayers around 60 says Donohue It s sort of a Catch 22 he remarked The more people they attract the more expensive it its Generally he says waste days attract only about two per cent of the population Never theless some of the smaller com munities are being forced to cut back on their costs by pooling their resources with other areas or holding fewer waste days In some communities hard hitting publicity campaigns are raising the level of public par ticipation in waste days Still set ting up permanent depots is the most costeffective way of collec ting hazardous wastes large centres says Donohue The pro vincial environment ministry grants of between and per cent of the start up costs depending on the size of the municipality says there are now 20 permanent depots for storing household hazardous wastes in southern Ontario Whats Cooking at Steak Expres Saturday 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