Whltby Free Press, Wednosday, Mardi 6,1996 ,Page 15 Hosp icevluter v ilefor support PEMTIcmS - ARE WB POISONING OURSELVES?. 'Do sprays contaminate compost' was a letter ta the editor of a Scarborougli newspaper expressixig concern about the amount of peSicde lawn spray used, together with the fact that these lippings are ending up in the centralized composting faciity. This -letter resulted ini a'reéponse from a réader explang water contamination from sprays. Last May, Durham Environmental Network hosted a public meeting during which guest speaker Michael Elliott, former mayor of ~Iudson, Que., laid out in detail hôw bis email community accomplished the firet municipal bylaw in Canada'to restrict the une of cosmetie pesticides. The concern motivating this council was the risk of a truck overturning, spilling its load of-pesticides and destroying the water supply. Council proposed and passed the bylaw in a 30-day period, cooperating with the provincial environment miginister and later successfully flghting a lawsuit by a chenucal cornpany. In 1993, the Toronta Envfrornmental Alliance (TEA) recommended that Metro revaéw its use of-herbicides and pesticides. While TEA in happy with the proress of the 50 per cent reduction that Metro lias made thus far, the organization becomes increasingly aware that the challenge ta keep chemnicals from entering the natural enviroument grows each year as more residents choose ta apply pesticides purely for cosmetie reasons. To achieve goals ta improve t.he overail quality of the Great Lakes, TEA recommenda that Metro Council pursue a, band on the use of pesticides as was done in Hudson. TEA is currently recruiting 40 Metro lawn-owners ta participate inits Green Thumb Project - a two-year plot program that aims to redues the amount ofpesticides entering the Great Lakes. Currently TEA is updating its pamphlet entitied, 'Green Lawns - A Guide ta Environmientally Sound Lawn Gare.'TEA can be contacted at 416- 598-0660. 1On Mardi 28, 7:30 p.m., the tapie 'Your Là awn - Alernatives ta the Chemical Fix will be held at the Scugog Centre, Regional Road 8 in Port Perry. Other upcoming tapics sponsored by Scugog's Green Team include 'Protecting Our Health from Ozone Layer Impact' on Mardi 7. Details, eaU 905-985-3225. Your local libraiy may have The Chemical-Free Lawn, Thze Polit ica <fCane, 27wYaOrganic Approach ta Home Gardening, as well as any fact sheets on companion planting and recipes of nan-toxtic bug sprays. As ar s gasselppings go, they should be 1leftot decompose on the lawn ta add nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus ta the yard's soil. Coundils in Whitby and Pickering have endorsed grasscycling which saves tax dollars and decreases exhaust fumes when not collected. Do not put sprayed clippings inta your composter, especially if the compost will be used on a vegetable garden. Even spt praying can be avoided bypulling out weeds. Several volunteers have just completed the Hospice Durham aolunteer training program and are ready ta offer support ta peâple *Windowse Siding*Dor Patio Doors. Awning s Heidi Schemnpp Authoized Contraor6 325 Hopkins St., Whitby Li N 2C1 668-2252 * 686-1853 £i 111 MI -*oim 4 WHEE'L ALIGNMENT IS TAJX FItEE at DIXON ALIGNMENT' 317 ýHopkins St. Il-jilUnit #5 I~I9LuIIWhitby LEIJ666-5167 with life-threatening illnesses. Hospice Durham volunteers as"ie with aumerous non-medical tasks, and provide support and companionship in the client's homes. .For more iniormation on servceseaU(905.435.2... 235X75R.1 5 P205X65R.15 i 85X60R.1 4 S GRABBER AP G4S FIE5N fI w OL MES~Lt SNO APPOINTMENT- 1' *5 VEAR ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY - INSTALLATIONS BALANCING TIRE DISPOSAL - ALIGNMVENT CHECK DUNDAS ST.A U)U) m WARREW RD. **:o i *, NSUMER DR. sEMPORIUM THE LOWEST PRICES ON BOXED MEATS AMY WHEREI! E FILLETS FEC FRIENC 40 CII ýl1 kg BAG DmdIe UEWbby A I UngS~ W., Ohawm * - LTwy4Gl Edh Open:'Mon.- Wed. 9-7, -Thurs-Ffl. 9-91 Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5 31BROCK S-T..- Ne GIIIOS 665.7 MARY ST.» DUNDAS ST. HWY4O1 wHITevJ - I ~ I un MMMM@6 L-l a ý A1mmý m m ý 1 Hwy 4m WHROY, l - 77