Sludge Watch ==> Ontario - politicians seek solution to paper sludge in Pelham

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Sludgewatch Admin:



The impacted public should have a voice in these 'behind closed door 
meetings'.  And

we need to give up the fiction that this is berm.   It is a mountain....It 
has been dubbed
Mount Broten:. (Ontario env minister Laurel Broten)

In a bid to put a 'happy face' on its quest to train the community to fetch 
them up some clean waste paper (so they can dump the filthy half of it at 
Mount Broten) Abitibi recently held a 'spokesdog' contest for the Humane 
Society.

Abititi  and their sludge  pals need to be put on a tighter leash.   Wioof.



..........................................................

United front; politicians seeking solution to pelham sludge controversy

MATTHEW VAN DONGEN

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 09:00

Local News - Regional politicians are seeking a made-in-Niagara solution to 
the sludge controversy in Pelham.

Regional chairman Peter Partington and several local mayors will meet with 
Abitibi Consolidated Sept. 28 to talk about how it disposes of paper fibre 
biosolids, the waste leftover after paper recycling.

An estimated 20,000 tonnes of paper sludge mixed with sand has been dumped 
on Pelham property this summer.

Abitibi and its disposal contractor, Empire Agri-Services, argue the mixture 
acts as a sound-reduction berm and poses no risk to the surrounding 
environment.

Residents worry berm runoff is contaminating nearby ditches and creeks and 
point to a provincial expert panel report that calls for greater regulation 
of the berms.

The province is still reviewing the recommendations in the report - more 
than a year after it was submitted.

That doesn't mean local politicians "can throw up their hands and do 
nothing," said Port Colborne Mayor Ron Bodner.

"It should be a provincial responsibility," said Bodner, who is concerned 
about an existing berm in his own municipality. "But you know what? We can't 
just sit back and wait."

Bodner is hoping "a frank discussion" with Abitibi will convince the paper 
recycler to change its disposal methods, or adopt the recommendations in the 
expert panel's report - even if the province is slow to do the same.

"We can encourage Abitibi and hear them out, in turn," he said. "They've 
always been good corporate citizens."

The meeting would be more legitimate if it included residents living near 
the berm, said Randy Desnoyers, who represents a group opposed to the berm.

Desnoyers said residents "have the most to lose" in the sludge battle and 
are disappointed they can't attend.

He said only co-operative pressure from residents and local politicians will 
convince the province to implement new regulations. The provincial expert 
panel's report called for the ministry of the environment to regulate 
Sound-Sorb, the product name associated with the sludge-sand mix.

It also recommended pre-composting of the material and water testing at 
existing berms to ensure local waterways and wells are safe.

Currently, Sound-Sorb is exempt from ministry waste regulations because the 
province considers it a product.

Osprey News Network wasn't able to reach an Abitibi official for comment 
Tuesday.

Bodner hopes Abitibi will consider voluntarily meeting some of the report 
recommendations.

"It wouldn't be breaking new ground," he said.

Another major paper recycler, Atlantic Packaging, recently agreed to conduct 
hydrogeological assessments on any future berm sites beforehand.

The company is also experimenting with incinerating the waste, rather than 
building berms.

In the absence of provincial regulation, these are options that appeal to 
Bodner.

"I find that encouraging. I'd like to hear (Abitibi's) thoughts on the whole 
process," he said.

In addition to Bodner, the meeting will include Partington, Pelham Mayor Ron 
Leavens, regional waste director Barry Friesen and a representative of 
Empire Agri-Services.



Ron Wing