Greens Support Those Who Wanted to Go the No Waste Approach

DURHAM--Green Party Leader Elizabeth May says she is encouraged that some Durham Region councilors were advocating for a zero waste approach in order to avoid an incinerator, even if they were outvoted.  “This is an excellent example of why Canadians must be sure to participate in municipal politics, where decisions are made that affect local issues.  Unfortunately, the council decided to vote for an expensive and outdated technology to deal with their waste, despite the plethora of voters against the idea.”

The decision has now passed into the hands of the provincial Ministry of the Environment as to whether the $272.5-million facility will be built in order to incinerate up to 140,000 tonnes of residential waste.  The Green Party has spoken out against this incineration project, pointing out that reusing and recycling wastes have been shown to generate ten to fifteen times more jobs than incineration or land filling, and that there are health and environmental risks associated with incineration.

“Already we have seen estimates for the cost of this incinerator increasing over time,” said Ms. May. “There are much better places to invest the funds.  Municipalities with vision can make great strides toward zero waste, improving their economy and their environment and protecting the health of their citizens, present and future.”

The Green Party urges residents to make their feelings about this incinerator known to their local and provincial representatives.  A final decision is due sometime later in the year.

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Contact:
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
613-562-4916 ext. 244
(c) 613-614-4916
michael.bernard@greenparty.ca