I attended the recent MRC Pontiac Energy from Waste (EFW) information meeting at Shawville United Church, and was pleased to see public interest in the project.
Everyone in attendance agreed we produce far too much waste, and several suggested reducing our household garbage through composting and education. As chairman of Shawville’s Waste Management Committee, and a member of MRC Pontiac’s Waste Committee, I can assure you we are already working on a county wide composting program. With public acceptance and usage, a green bin pick up of compostable waste will reduce 40% of the tonnage we now send to Lachute landfill.
An EFW facility will only deal with problematic ‘residual’ waste materials that cannot be recycled or composted, but can be transformed into electricity. Some concerns were expressed regarding the safety and environmental impact of an EFW operation. My experience from working with MRC’s Council of Mayors has shown, this group of responsible elected individuals would never support any project that might have a negative impact on our environment.
Currently eighteen MRC Pontiac municipalities spend 1.7 million dollars annually transporting our garbage to Lachute landfill. Composting and EFW facilities, operating under Quebec’s strict environmental regulations at the Litchfield Industrial site, will substantially reduce those costs to taxpayers.
I attended the recent MRC Pontiac Energy from Waste (EFW) information meeting at Shawville United Church, and was pleased to see public interest in the project.
Everyone in attendance agreed we produce far too much waste, and several suggested reducing our household garbage through composting and education. As chairman of Shawville’s Waste Management Committee, and a member of MRC Pontiac’s Waste Committee, I can assure you we are already working on a county wide composting program. With public acceptance and usage, a green bin pick up of compostable waste will reduce 40% of the tonnage we now send to Lachute landfill.
An EFW facility will only deal with problematic ‘residual’ waste materials that cannot be recycled or composted, but can be transformed into electricity. Some concerns were expressed regarding the safety and environmental impact of an EFW operation. My experience from working with MRC’s Council of Mayors has shown, this group of responsible elected individuals would never support any project that might have a negative impact on our environment.
Currently eighteen MRC Pontiac municipalities spend 1.7 million dollars annually transporting our garbage to Lachute landfill. Composting and EFW facilities, operating under Quebec’s strict environmental regulations at the Litchfield Industrial site, will substantially reduce those costs to taxpayers.
Richard Armitage
Shawville
