Sludge Watch ==> Paper Recycling Boycott Troubles Abititi in Niagara

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Sludgewatch Admin:

The public troubles itself to put its newspapers and magazine in the 
recycling box so Abitibi can use it for its recycled paper.  The Region of 
Niagara sells the paper stock to Abitibi.  But then Abitibi, the bad 
neighbour, takes its industrial tailings and makes this sludge into huge 
berms that can contain toxic chemicals and fecal coliforms.  Abitibi tells 
the public  that the sludge is 'safe' but has consistantly  refused to 
provide the public with any test data.

Well why should the public continue to put themselves out to recycle paper 
to Abitibi?  Niagara  Region  seems to persist in providing Niagara's 
recycled paper to a company that has done so much to upset so many rural 
residents.   Abitibi  is trucking its sludge into huge berms and onto 
farmfields with no waste permit from the Ontario Government. The Expert 
Panel convened by the Ontario Government says the material needs to be 
pre-processed before being released into the environment.

But Abitibi has been ignoring this message.

Either the Region should withhold the paper stock from Abiltibi or the the 
public should refuse to recycle it to them.
........................................................................

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=96062&catname=Local%20News&classif=

Abitibi blasts recycling boycott; Some residents angry about sludge threaten 
to withhold recyclables

Matthew Van Dongen
Local News - Tuesday, July 04, 2006 @ 01:00

A recycling boycott would send a definite message. On that point, everyone 
agrees.

Some residents upset at the dumping of recycled paper waste in Pelham have 
threatened to withhold their grey boxes next week, and they've urged all 
Niagara residents to do the same.

For them, the message is simple: paper recycler Abitibi Consolidated should 
find a different way to dispose of its sludge, the byproduct of newspaper 
recycling.

Abitibi, however, hears a different message.

"It comes across as a very not-in-my-backyard approach," said Marc 
MacDonald, spokesman for the Thorold recycling company.

"They're trying to pass themselves off as environmentalists, but they're 
coming at this from a very anti-environment angle."

Pelham residents picketed Friday outside Abitibi, the source of tens of 
thousands of tonnes of paper sludge being piled in a large berm on a Church 
Street property.

On-site, contractor Empire Agri-Services mixes the sludge with sand, 
creating a federally trademarked product called Sound-Sorb.


The berm is meant to block sound from a nearby railway, but neighbours have 
complained about odour and the potential for water and air contamination.

On Monday, MacDonald repeated the company's belief the sludge is safe and 
composed primarily of wood fibre and clay.

"It's non-hazardous and benign. The (Ministry of the Environment) has tested 
it and tested it again," he said.

What is bad for the environment, he said, is withholding recyclables.

"That would be unfortunate, because we've worked hard for a number of years 
to instill that recycling reflex," MacDonald said.

"What we have now is an alternate use for a non-hazardous product. Our other 
option is to fill up valuable landfill space (with the sludge)."

Pelham Mayor Ron Leavens isn't convinced a mountain of dumped Sound-Sorb is 
benign.

But Leavens, mayor of the first municipality in Niagara to start a blue box 
program, said a recycling boycott won't solve the sludge dilemma, either. 
"We can't throw the baby out with the bathwater," he said. "We have to find 
a solution to this particular problem."

On Friday, some protesters said they're worried the contents of their grey 
boxes will just end up dumped in a sludgy pile on Church Street.

That's not the case, said regional waste management director Barry Friesen.

The Region collects, separates and ultimately sells recycled paper collected 
at the curb, said Friesen.

The portion sold to Abitibi represents only four per cent of the company's 
intake, he said.

"We do sell some to Abitibi, but it's such a small amount," said Friesen.

"All (a boycott) would accomplish would be to disrupt our collection 
contractor's schedule. It would do nothing but hurt other businesses and 
ultimately the regional taxpayer.

"It's not going to make much of a difference to Abitibi, I'm afraid."

Not all Pelham protesters agree with the proposed boycott, said sludge pile 
neighbour Carolyn Botari, who doesn't plan to participate.

But she said protesters agree Abitibi should be obligated to find a new 
disposal method for sludge.

Botari said the group has sent a letter to Abitibi's headquarters and is 
expecting a reply this week.

Friesen urged concerned citizens to concentrate on convincing the province 
to regulate the use of Sound-Sorb.

An expert panel commissioned by the province made that recommendation last 
year. The Ministry of the Environment is still reviewing the panel's 
recommendations.

Abitibi feels the product is safe to apply without additional regulations, 
MacDonald said.

But if the ministry decides to implement more specific rules, Abitibi "would 
be pleased to work with them," MacDonald said. "We'll support (the ministry) 
in any direction they go."

mvandongen at stcatharinesstandard.ca