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6 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, June 27, 2007 OPINION EFW about-face "We have to admit that... EFW (energy from waste) is off the table, period. We still have garbage problems and we have to deal with them." --Halton Region chair Pete Pomeroy, January 29, 1992 "This is not the time to do it." "Now is the time to focus on the other aspects of our Solid Waste Management Strategy that will reduce the amount of waste going to our landfill." --Halton Region chair Gary Carr, June 13 and 20, 2007 When Halton Region council voted unanimously last week to delay an energy-from-waste (EFW) proposal for at least five years, it indicated little has changed-- at least in the minds of our elected officials-- when it comes to EFW as a viable option to prolong the life of the Region's landfill. However, in reaching that conclusion-- the same one reached 15 years earlier when EFW was last discussed-- residents were sent a confusing message. When the possibility of an EFW facility at the Region landfill was raised last year, the spin from the Region about EFW was positive, noting any emissions would be well within provincial guidelines and only the most modern pollution control equipment would be used. The Region even issued a press release trumpeting results from a Toronto Star/Decima Research poll that said 89 per cent of local citizens thought an the EFW concept was a winning one. "This poll shows that Halton was once again forwardthinking in how we plan on managing our waste," said thenRegion chair Joyce Savoline. Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette also backed EFW during the last municipal election campaign, saying the technology "is much improved than what it was years ago" and that "we have to look at it (EFW) now." He also alluded to the fact that "1,000 cars a minute go by the Brampton EFW plant" and few people know it's there. Even environmental group Protect Our Water and Environmental Resources (POWER)-- which in recent months was the leading opponent of an EFW plant-- didn't muster much opposition to an EFW facility last August. Stating the group hadn't yet taken a position on EFW, POWER president Leslie Adams said, "It is something for me that would probably be okay in the mix." Why, in a matter of months, did an EFW facility go from being touted by the Region as a viable alternative to landfill to an idea not worth pursuing for at least another five years? It's quite possible the business case put forth by Region staff on the hazards an EFW might pose was so compelling that councillors couldn't support the plan. Or perhaps, regional politicians did not want to handle such a hot potato in these environmentally-conscious times. www.independentfreepress.com Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398 Steve Nease STAFF DIRECTORY Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Advertising co-ordinator Jennifer Christie (jchristie@independentfreepress.com) Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Adam Spinney (aspinney@independentfreepress.com) Andrew Key (akey@independentfreepress.com) Amy Sykes (features@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Michelle Wimmer EDITORIAL Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) PRODUCTION: Mary Lou Foreman, Kevin Powell, Shelli Harrison, Dolores Black, Debbie MacDougall LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Students ruining shopping experience Dear editor, I am a middle-aged woman who has been doing her shopping at the Super Centre/Loblaws for about 25 years. However since the store moved to its new location I have found students from Christ the King School next door to be very disruptive. Recently a group of male students helped themselves to a basketball from a bin and began bouncing it around the store. One boy threw it to another who missed, nearly knocking an elderly lady to the floor. A few minutes later while walking down an aisle a group of 9-12 students walking three abreast would not move, forcing shoppers to move to the edge of the aisle. The students also curse and help themselves to the bulk bins. While leaving the store by the Guelph Street entrance on a green light the students cross in large number against the light, not allowing me to go by. I have voiced my concerns to the store manager and my understanding is that he was to talk to the school principal. We are, after all, paying customers and are deserving of a pleasant shopping experience. Janet Mashinter, Georgetown Something bugging you? Send us a letter! Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 200 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Georgetown now part of Freecycle network Dear editor, I'd like to update the list of Freecycle sites to include Georgetown, which has its own Freecycle network. Thanks to Joanne Adler, Acton Freecycle moderator, for a very fine description of the Freecycle Network in her June 22 letter to the editor. Again the address is www.freecycle.org. The good news is in the past week Georgetown Freecycle has opened, and will shortly be listed in other recycle sites around the area as well. As well as Georgetown, the groups in Acton, Mississauga, Brampton, Milton, Oakville, Kitchener/Waterloo, Caledon, Erin, Rockwood and Guelph provide great alternatives to throwing out items in the large garbage pickup. Special thanks to the more than 100 members who have signed on in the past week, providing us here at Georgetown Freecycle with a wonderful membership willing to make good use of your unwanted items very quickly. Thanks again for adding us to the Freecycle network here in Georgetown. Val King, Georgetown/Ballinafad Ensure your flag is in good condition Car clinic informative Dear editor, As the wonderful celebration of Canada Day is upon us once again it is time to remind everyone who flies a Canadian flag to check on its condition. Too often I see torn and faded flags on schools, government buildings, homes and businesses. A flag exposed to the elements does not look good for very long and should be replaced frequently. I don't care if people fly a flag or not, but if you are going to fly one please ensure that it looks clean and fresh with deep vibrant colour. Anything less is disrespectful to a fine symbol. Phil Taylor, Acton THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS The Independent & Free Press is published every Wednesday and Friday at 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown Ont., L7G 4B1. It is one of several newspapers published by Metroland Media Group Ltd. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the acceptable rate. In the event of typographical error advertising goods or services at wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell which may be withdrawn at any time. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Price: Store copies 50¢ each; Subscriptions $26 per year by carrier; $92.50 per year by mail in Canada; $130 per year in all other countries. Plus G.S.T. Second Class Mail Registration Number 6869. The Independent & Free Press is a member of The Canadian Community Newspaper Association and The Ontario Community Newspaper Association. Dear editor, I would like to thank Turner Automotive for hosting the recent car care clinic for women. The clinic was presented by Kelly Williams who was a female race car driver for several years. She covered information such as when to change the oil, how to check your tire pressure and where to find important information about your car. Owner Jason Turner was on hand to answer any "technical" questions posed by the enquiring group. This clinic certainly surpassed my expectations. I would recommend that every woman attend a clinic if given the opportunity. Kim Bandy-Bollert, Georgetown