You and Your Children’s Health, Future, and Environment are at Risk
Did you know…
The Regions of York/Durham have short-listed 5 potential sites for a new incineration plant, one of which is off Davis Drive between Warden and Woodbine Avenue (adjacent to the existing recycling plant) right next to the Moraine and Black River. Area residents in Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, Holland Landing, Aurora, Stouffville, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Markham, King and Sharon will be affected as the toxins from this plant will be carried to all of these areas and even further.
A decision will be made within the next few months… as to the selected site for this incineration plant.
This proposed site location was originally deemed as “environmentally protected” and part of the Greenbelt Area since this land backs on to the Moraine and Black River. It was stated by York Region representatives that no Greenbelt would be considered. It came to our attention at the last meeting that through political and legal loop holes, they are now waiving this as not an environmentally protected area and that since they had it zoned prior to the Greenbelt Legislature that the site is now a viable option for incinerating garbage.
Incinerator plants are the source of serious toxic pollutants: dioxins; furans; acid gases; particulates; heavy metals such as lead and mercury; this needs to be treated very seriously. The emissions from incinerator processes are extremely toxic. Some of the emissions are carcinogenic. We must use every reasonable instrument to stop this insanity and eliminate these toxins altogether, our health and our children’s health is at stake. There are numerous studies that link these types of plants to cancer, birth defects, numerous respiratory problems and heart related disease.
Proponents of incinerators claim the new breeds of incinerators are not problem polluters. But the industry’s own data proves the contrary. Modern incinerators emit mercury at a rate 5 times higher per unit of electricity generated than coal, and greenhouse gases at a rate substantially higher than coal-fired or natural gas-fired power plants. How ironic that the Ontario government has promised to close down Ontario’s coal-fired power plants to reduce mercury emissions, but at the same time is supporting municipal waste incinerators.
Once you build an incinerator, you must “feed the machine”; so recycling and waste reduction become “the enemy” because the machine must have a new load of fresh garbage every day. The machine needs waste, so its very existence serves as a major deterrent to less wasteful life styles - in sum: incinerators promote waste - they thrive on waste, they need waste, they demand waste - they are a major deterrent to clean production, full recycling, resource conservation, zero waste and a sustainable economy.
Incineration is a BAD idea - it is BAD anywhere - it is BAD for the taxpayer, BAD for the economy, BAD for jobs, BAD for sustainability. Simply put, we shouldn’t be spending a huge amount of taxpayer’s money to release more toxins into the air and further pollute our environment, destroy our resources, and increase our health costs.
The ashes created from this incineration plant travels many miles and will pollute nearby waterways (the Black River), plants, trees, wildlife, not to mention our children and grandchildren. The additional traffic created from this site will be horrendous - hundreds and hundreds of huge trucks daily hauling in tons and tons of garbage will be continuously lining our highways and roads, 404, Hwy 48, Green Lane, Woodbine, Davis Drive, creating even more pollution and traffic congestion. The additional noise, smell and pollution created from this site is totally unacceptable…
We, as residents of York Region, urge everyone to send their notice of 100% objection to this proposed incineration site in Newmarket/East Gwillimbury, to the Durham/York Residual Waste Study Coordinator, by either:
Email: info@durhamyorkwaste.ca
Tel: 905-307-8628
Toll Free: 1-866-398-4423
and/or call your local councillor, MPP and MP.
Time is running out so please act quickly - our future depends on your support.
Excellent !!!
I live in Mount Albert. We have raised six children here and we are now dealing with our second child with cancer. We live downwind from this preposed garbage incinerator. Will we be able to let our grandchildren play outside in the future? Will we have to check the wind direction before going out for a walk? We will not be able to see the dioxins and other carcinogens raining down on us.
This is an election year in Ontario contact your MPP today!
Please sign the petition and support this effort to stop the incinerator now.
Excellent article! DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE
Doug Kennedy
the website looks great guys, keep up the good work!!
We just moved to Mt. Albert, to the country to get away from the town life. We love it here and Mt. Albert is a great school for our kids. We can’t help but wonder if when our children go out to play at recess (or at home), how much damage we will be doing them by allowing them that freedom. Also, those that live in the country are on wells and grow our own vegetable gardens. What kind of polutants will we be consuming?
The more people that are willing to sign this petition against the proposed incinerator plant, will help to preserve the Oak Ridges Moraine and the country living (wild life, less traffic, organic farms). We were planning to live here the rest of our lives.
First Halton Recylcing and now this proposed incineration plant. Newmarket council sure in the heck did not do it’s homework in regards to Halton Recycling. Now they want a bigger disaster in thier own backyard. Just Great!!
Don’t think for a minute the Ministry of the Enviroment will help you if there is a problem . The ministries only object is to look after the garbage. They really don’t care about us. That is obvious as they have done nothing to help the community deal with Halton Recyling.
Rememember a provinical election is coming. Speak up!Speak Loudly!
Wow.. Keep up the good work!!
I have done petitions in the past and according to Julia Munroe’s office, online petitions are not acceptable in Queen’s Park. Petitions must be “original signatures” if this is to go to Queen’s Park. (Or is this just for local politicians?) I support this issue as Newmarket/Aurora has enough pollutants in the air with Magna’s plants in the Bayview/Mulock area as well as Nor Baker just east of Davis and Yonge.
While we all agree that we must do something with all the garbage that we generate, common sense says that choosing an area well within the residential areas of York region says there is some serious bad planning going on amongst our elected representatives or else they are blind to the risks proposed and proven. Surely the tall foreheads that manage our governmental affairs have looked to see that the wind blows from north to south over virtually all of the major residential communities in our region. Get with the program folks.
I would like to know what our Mayor and local council has to say about this project. I believe the avenue around re-zoning is unacceptable and our elected representatives should be expressing their concerns and support of this protest.
The prevailing winds the majority of the time are Northwest which means Ballantrae, Stouffville, Uxbridge, Markham, Peterborough, Pickering, and Oshawa will also be effected. Let’s make sure that these communities are aware too. Who is selecting these sites? Is it real estate brokers? Developers? Legally, this was zoned prior to the Greenbelt Act? What about the Oak Ridges Moraine Act? This came in AFTER the Oak Ridges Moraine Act. If my elected representatives will not stand up for us - then I will. I’ll be at the meetings, I’ll be at the polls, I’ll make sure my professional association is aware and does everything possible about this. Yes - we need to do something about our waste - but give this some serious, scientific thought! Let’s also come up with alternatives!
This idea descusts and angers me to the fullest. I am tired of the positive attitudes our political leaders attempt to display concerning our environment, when their actions simply prove otherwise. It’s time for them to step up and start making wiser decisions when it comes to these problems, such as waste disposal. Start thinking long term.
Notwithstanding the impact on the environment and the pristine countryside, no one has expressed any concern about the increased traffic that will surely accompany this project. I believe the amount of incineration proposed is 300,000 tonnes per year, however no indication of how many trucks this represents was made or projected. Given the current traffic congestion and the increases over the next few years just from housing this added pressure on our roads will be unbearable.
Karen Stephenson is correct, her comment that on-line petitions do not bear the same weight as actual signed letters but it does give us and the politicians a sense of the communities feelings which they do take to heart, or maybe that’s should be votes.
Over the next week we will be posting several letters as well as the Ministers and other politicians along with their address. We encourage everyone to print it out and mail it to them and request a response
I believe the dramatic chimney photos are of industrial stacks - NOT INCINERATOR STACKS.
IF THIS IS THE CASE, YOU ARE USING FICTITIOUS PHOTOS TO EMPHASIS A POINT THAT IS MISLEADING.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A POINT BUT ARE YOU USING SCARE TACTICS TO
AROUSE ANGER AND A BACKLASH ?
HAVE YOU ACTUAL FACTS OF THESE HORRIBLE THREATS TO HEALTH FROM ANY AREAS IN EUROPE FOR INSTANCE WHERE INCINERATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS ? I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY REBELLIOUS ACTS FROM THERE.
I THINK YOU SHOULD BE PRESENTING REFERRENCES TO OTHER AREAS WHERE THESE MODERN INCINERATORS ARE LOCATED AND THE RESULTS THERE. THANK YOU.
Debate is necessary to bring awareness. We may not be able to affect change each time however it’s an important lesson for our children. Let us keep our environment healthy for our children and their children.
this makes me sick to my stomach
In response to Mr. Bermans comment, sir please click on the link above title Health Effects of Waste Incinerators published by The British Medical Association which talks to the related helath effects of incineration. You might also want to take a minute to view a few of the other links for additional information. There have been a number of incinerators shut down in Europe, the U.S. and Canada due to both the levels of pollution emitted and the resulting public outcry. At the present time there is an action underway in Austria to stop a planned incinerator in the area. There are a number of actions underway in the U.S. some of which have recently resulted in a number of incinerators being shut down.Even if they could build them with no related health risks it makes no sense economically or from a sustainability perspective as these things once built need garbage to make them economically viable. You might be interested to know that York Region requirements are less than 50,000 tonnes/year, where is the other 250,000 tonnes coming from?
In refernce to Mr. Candolin’s final comment, the answer is simple - the other 250,000 tonnes will be coming from where else - the GTA where they will under no circumstances consider incineration. The NDP based city councillirs will never permit waste incineration within their boundaries. This leads to the obvious question why is York Region being monopolized by Toronto. Given Toronto’s waste levels the project should be under consideration within their boundaries and York gladly provide its 50,000 tonnes per year in support.
We do not want the incinerator at the Davis Drive. Warden/Woodbine site.
Jack and Heather Mulchinock
Thanks for letting the public know of what could possibly happen if our area is chosen as a waste disposal site. Yes, we need to resolve the issue of where to place all our garbage but with all the vast land and open space available in our province why would they choose a site that would affect so many residential areas. More thought needs to be given as to applying restrictions on the way our garbage is being disposed; where it may affect the health of the residents nearby.
It is a proven fact that this web site causes illnesses; just look at the response above about a person becoming ill from viewing the site. Also, the electro radiation emminating from this particular site causes cancer, blindness, baldness and nausea.
These claims are as sound as the hysteria in this web site. It is quite easy to say “Studies have shown such and such causes whatever illness you please” and not have to worry about providing actual scientific data to support the claim. By the way, your home heating system emits dioxins, lead particulates and mercury.
I wager that the author of this site has never read a peer reviewed scientific study on the issue. One responder above nailed it when they pointed out the misleading photos and claims.
Why not let the scientific debate proceed instead of trying to shut off any consideration?
What do you propose as an alternative, ship it somewhere else for them to handle? Oh yeah, I know, we can recycle all of it. Well, why haven’t you done so yet?
Hopefully at least some of those reading this site will realize that this is nothing more than unsubstantiated hyperbole and scare tactics.
Regarding Mr. Ed Candolini’s comments, it is false that “there have been a number of (waste-to-energy plants)” shut down in Europe, the U.S. and Canada due to both the levels of pollution emitted and the resulting public outcry.” Congress required EPA to set new standards based upon the availablilty of new technology, not “levels of pollution.” A few, older plants chose not to spend the money to install the new equipment, even if they were already meeting health-based emissions standards.
It is also false, other than the economics mentioned above, that “There are a number of actions underway in the U.S. some of which have recently resulted in a number of (waste-to-energy plants) being shut down.”
You note that I replaced his use of “incinerators” with “waste-to-energy plants” because waste-to-energy is what is being considered in Ontario, and opponents like to mix all sorts of facilities under the term “incinerator”. For example, hazardous waste or medical waste incinerators or old fashioned, outdated trash burners with no pollution control equipment are all called incinerators. It is true that a number of them have been shut down.
Regarding “feeding” the waste-to-energy plant and perhaps trash from other locations coming to a regional facility, where does your trash go now? Do you bury it in your backyard so it affects no one else but you?
Mr. Vero, this wouldn’t be the same Mr. Vero that happens to be a partner with Couch White representing the construction industry, handling a broad range of Civil Litigation and representing business interests in the legislature and before state agencies????
Mr. Vero, you might be ineterested to know that one of the local municpalities unanimously passed a motion on Tuesday May 22nd stating that they would not be willing host for a Waste from Energy(as you call it) Incinerator, or Waste of Energy (as I call it), due to all the reasons stated in this web site. I guess the entire council must be made up of completely uninformed individuals, after all what can you expect from a bunch of Canadians.