Dear Editor,
I would like to address the Nov. 27 letter to the editor written by Robert Wills. I understand his need to be . . .
skeptical and agree that important questions need to be answered.
It is very important to have accurate information as we move forward with this exciting economic and environmental opportunity for the Pontiac. In January 2020, I will begin to hold meetings in each municipality where presentations will be given about this important project and all questions and concerns can be addressed.
We have a population of 14,200 people and currently spend a huge sum of one million dollars per year trucking waste to a landfill in Lachute, Que. This is from your municipal taxes. This will increase each year. With landfill, the perpetual care of it will last the life of this earth. What legacy do we leave to our children and grandchildren? We are also burying important resources in the ground that could be converted to electrical power and steam heating. I am pleased to read that Mr. Wills agrees that we need a better solution and he even suggests incineration.
Incineration developed a bad name as it was originally polluting and created great concern about air quality. The process used by Covanta is completely different and a proven technology.
The City of Gatineau with the four other regions in the Outaouais (including the Pontiac) embarked on a study. The CREDO has been investigating solutions for waste to relieve our dependence on landfill. Unfortunately, no mandate was given to them and very little has been accomplished. We see this as an opportunity for leadership where the Pontiac can help the other regions take responsibility for their waste. The rest of the Outaouais supports our endeavours and we have committed to producing a business plan to present in the next three to five months. We have calculated driving distances to the regions’ current landfills and to bring their waste to the Pontiac is actually a shorter distance.
Wills thinks that this facility should be located closer to Ottawa or Gatineau but we are a willing host. We need the 50 jobs and we want the savings of truck transport off our taxes. We are in the driver’s seat and we are the only region providing leadership.The other wardens agree with our urgency and agree we should know where we are going by the end of the term.
If we compost and recycle to the maximum we will remove approximately 30 per cent from the current landfill stream. The only way we will divert 90 per cent of our waste from landfill is through a new and emerging technology like energy from waste.
The best and closest example of a best practice that we can follow is the Durham York Energy Centre. I spent three hours there two weeks ago having an excellent presentation and an in-depth tour. In Durham more than 500 tonnes of waste can be processed per day. They produce electricity to power 10,000 homes, they provide steam heating to Ontario Power Generation and have 2,000 new employees moving across the street as new businesses attracted to this energy are being constructed. Covanta operates 42 energy-from-waste facilities in the world. They are also the world leader in energy from waste processing. The ferrous and non-ferrous metal recovered at the end provides Durham with $650,000 a year. The revenue from electricity is $8.7 million/year. The steam could heat 2,200 homes.
To address Wills concern of air quality, it is monitored every minute. It is posted outside the building on a big sign. Complete transparency. The air is scrubbed with lime and water and released as 99.9 per cent pure to the air. Groundwater and surface water is monitored.
When I was elected two years ago, I began to speak to the mayors and then to the wardens and mayors of eight other regions. This is an approved technology in Quebec and we already have one approved site. The environment minister is very interested in our project. The Pontiac will only revitalize by seizing opportunities like this. We will become known as leading edge, innovative, green, sustainable and a leader. This is the Pontiac that I am striving for.
Jane Toller
Warden MRC Pontiac
