Head games HATS or some type of head covering were prominently displayed in Whitby schools last week, but for different reasons. Kindergarten student Ashley Ferguson (top, left) tried on the som- brero of her teacher Barbara War- mington during Hat Day at Palmerston while junior kindergarten student Patrick Barkley (bottom, left) adjusts the hat he wore for St. Patrick's Day celebrations at St. Leo's school in Brooklin. At right, Laura Mullin of An- derson CVI portrays Voltaire as part of a history department presentation for the school's open house last Thursday. Free Press photos Region approves waste study Durham Region council has approved a $30,000 study to update its knowledge on waste disposal but some councillors believe the study is just a waste of time. The Region agreed te hire the consultant firm of MacLaren Engineers after works chairman Gerry Emm informed council today's technology is different from that of the period three years ago wHen the Region held a similar study. "We should make any decision on up to date information," said Emm. MacLaren will not identify a site but will report on the detailed technical and cost factors related to waste disposal options from landfill to incineration. The report is to be completed in three mônths. At the same time Region staff are to report on a short-term option for the Region's garbage needs. Durham is now sharing the Resident dies m accident A 33-year-old Whitby man died when the car he was driving in Newcastle slid through an intersection and was struck by two pick-up trucks. The accident at Maple Grove Rd. and Hwy. 2 just east of Bowmanville occurred during an ice storm on Saturday evening. Lloyd Gloster of 112 Kent St. was travelling southbound on Maple Grove when he slid onto Hwy. 2. Durham Regional Police say Gloster was pronounced dead at Bowmanville Hospital. During the storm, which lasted from 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.,. police responded to 103 accidents. Brock West landfill site in Pickering with Metro Toronto but that site is expected to be filled by 1990. At least six councillors dis- agreed with hiring the consultant "We have been playing games all this year. You have been hoping Metro will solve all your problems. This report is not worth the damn paper it is written on," said an angry Pickering councillor Alex Robert- son. Ajax Mayor Bill McLean wanted to know why the Region's staff could not prepare the longterm report as well as the short-term. Emm informed him MacLaren will also look at the requirements for an environmental assesment hearing, should one be needed for a new dump site. Another option for waste disposal, incineration, will also be considered in the report. Revenue can be generated by SEE PAGE 9 Don't accept Metro garbage, says Edwards At least one Whitby regional councillor supports a notice of motion by Ajax councillor Jim Witty that Durham will not take Metro's garbage after the Brock West landfill site closes in 1990. Witty introduced his motion at the March 9 regional council meeting. It will be debated within six weeks. But Whitby representative Tom Edwards is already throwing his support behind the move. "I argued for that in 1985 and I am in favor of it now," says Edwards. In 1985, the Region decided to enter into a joint agreement with Metro for using the Brock West site. With that site closing, Metro is looking for a new site while Durham is also looking at its options. For more up to date infor- mation, the Region approved a $30,000 study on Wednesday. According to Edwards, that was a waste of time. "I'm afraid the consultant will come forward with a recom- mendation and "futter" around then we will be compelled to get locked in with Metro," says Edwards. He says a region-only site, while it would be expensive for regional taxpayers, would be a saving in the long run because the dump would last longer handling only Durham's garbage. Regional councillor and works chairman Gerry Emm says he is "leaning" towards a Durham-only site. But Emm may have been persuaded to support Witty's motion following a meeting of Metro's Solid Waste Envir- onmental Assessment Plan (SWEAP) committee last Thursday, a day after Witty told council of bis motion. According to Emm, no Metro SEE PAGE 9 The regional headquarters debate of last year will 'look like a kindergarten party" compared to the upcoming debate over waste disposal, predicts Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema. Herrema said Durham is also facing a "crisis" situation for which regional council members will not be able to "come up with an easy solution." He says there will also be "hard feelings" as a result of the ultimate decision. Herrema said he would prefer that Durham Region have its own landfill site, rather than use Metro Toronto's, as well as an incineration system. "I've seen it, I know it can be done," said Herrema of incinceration, which he says would cost $100 million over 10 years. "I'd sooner burn it than bury it." He notes that there's still 25 per cent waste from what's burned, meaning disposal of the ash is still required. And he says recycling should be continued to reduce waste. Another option that could be considered, he says, is the user pay system of garbage collection that is in effect in some areas of the U.S. But· Herrema said that system should not be pri- vately-operated, but carried out by the Region. Herrema said he would support a Metro dump site if one is located in Durham. "If we don't support it, we'll have to do it alone anyways," he says. Metro has proposed certain locations in Scarborough and Durham Region, including one in Whitby, for a new landfill site and will narrow the proposals down to two locations March 21. Herrema won't. reveal the SEE PAGE 4 I - --~ "--I....-. .I . - ~- - -. - - - - . I - Herrema expects 'hard feelings'over decision