[getsmart-l] ONTARIO: New Status Report on Hazardous Waste

[Media Release]

Emacs!



Media Release - For Immediate Release
Attention News/Assignment/Environment Editors and Reporters


New Status Report on Hazardous Waste in Ontario

Ottawa, Windsor, Burlington top 3 hazardous waste districts

(Toronto, September 5, 2007)  Despite some progress in the province, 
hazardous waste continues to threaten human health, the environment 
and Ontario's economy due to continued significant quantities of 
hazardous waste and gaps in regulation and enforcement, according to 
a new status report by the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law 
and Policy (CIELAP).  The report, called "Hazardous Waste in 
Ontario:  Progress and Challenges," is available at www.cielap.org.

Stated in the report, "Hazardous waste is a problem that continues to 
require urgent attention not only from environmental and ethical 
perspectives, but from a cost perspective as well. Various negative 
external costs must be addressed, including water contamination, air 
pollution, and clean-up costs from accidents."

"Contaminants are also entering the food chain and affecting the 
health of Ontario residents. This environmental health issue is 
likely creating significant costs for the public health care system 
as well as employers."

As well as detailing shortcomings, CIELAP's report identifies where 
the government has made some progress, such as ending land disposal 
of untreated hazardous waste from large-quantity producers.  "Finally 
the government of Ontario is taking action on this file; the public 
understands the need for action but there is unfinished business," 
said Anne Mitchell, CIELAP's Executive Director.  "CIELAP urges the 
government to continue its efforts to safely dispose of hazardous 
waste and promote pollution prevention and toxic product use reduction."

In 2005 Ontario generated 1,721,240 tonnes of hazardous and liquid 
industrial waste.  This amount is comparable to the 1,724,933 tonnes 
we generated in 2000, meaning that there has been no significant 
reduction in the generation of hazardous and liquid industrial waste 
over the past 5 years.  While the numbers haven't increased, the 
province needs to step up its efforts to bring this waste generation down.

The top 3 districts in Ontario that generate hazardous and liquid 
industrial waste are:  1. Ottawa - 250,887 tonnes; 2. Burlington - 
233,939 tonnes; and 3. Windsor - 187,050 tonnes (see background for a 
complete list).

"The Ontario government must provide the resources to implement its 
most recent hazardous waste management initiatives effectively, and 
it should address the need for additional laws and policies," 
explained Maureen Carter-Whitney, CIELAP's Research Director and 
author of the report. "It is also essential that the public be given 
easier access to information about hazardous waste generation in 
Ontario, free of charge."

For example, the provincial government needs to: invest in enough 
resources to ensure compliance with implementation of the new Land 
Disposal Restriction Regulation; develop a guideline for hazardous 
waste incinerators that includes rigorous emissions and operating 
standards; and take a stronger role in stormwater monitoring and management.

"The government must continue working to ensure that Ontario's 
environment and economy are adequately protected," said 
Mitchell.  "We've conducted several years of research and analysis on 
hazardous waste in the province, and now encourage the government to 
quickly implement the recommendations in the report."

CIELAP has recommended (see report for complete list of 
recommendations) that the provincial government:
    * Actively pursue a pollution prevention strategy for hazardous 
wastes that focuses on reducing toxics use;
    * Promote Extended Producer Responsibility in Ontario, and 
require "design for environment" changes and the phase-out of 
specific hazardous materials used in products; and
    * Address the problem of hazardous waste discharges into sewage 
systems, particularly the increasing volume of persistent toxic 
contaminants and the quality of sewage treatment plant discharges into water.
"As we head into an election, it's crucial that politicians address 
the real threats posed by hazardous waste," said Mitchell.

-30-

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:

Brent Kulba, (e|c|o media relations), 416-972-7401, kulbab at huffstrategy.com


Founded in 1970, the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and 
Policy (CIELAP) is an independent environmental law and policy 
research and education organization.


Background

For the complete report, see www.cielap.org.

City rank, in terms of total quantity of hazardous waste generated
Emacs!



Quantity of hazardous waste generated and received in Ontario, 1994 to 2005
Emacs!



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