Task force
favors
user-pay,
recycling.

The Solid Waste Task Force
meeting at the Terrace Hotel last
Wednesday attracted a crowd of
only about 16 local residents.
After the meeting however, Task
Force chairman James Rabbitt,
the MLA for Yale/Lillooet, said
he wasn’t disappointed. He
pointed out that waste disposal
isn't a very exciting topic but
those who turned out, although
they offered nothing new, were
interested and their comments
reinforced those made at earlier
meetings in other parts of the
province.

by Tod Strachan

The main theme of the | .

meeting was a “‘user pay’’ con-
cept in which those contributing
the most garbage would pay the
most for its disposal. This, ac-
cording to Rabbitt, would pro-

- mote recycling, and extend the

life of current land fill projects.
Also, an awareness campaign to
have consumers boycott non-

recyclable products would en-

courage manufacturers to pro-
duce recyclable goods and fur-
ther reduce the annual volume

of solid waste that is buried or.

otherwise disposed of in the pro-
vince.
This met with some approval

‘JAMES RABBITT: Our
society must change. .

ROBERT WILLIAMS: The
user-pay concept will In-
volve both Incentives and
non-incentives.

E DOUGLAS

Terrace Review — Wednesday, November:2, "1988 27

_ Small crowd probes big probl

RABRAT ‘

Solld Waste Task Force chalrman James Rabbitt (center), MLA for Yale/Lillooet, sald he wasn’t ‘disappointed |
with the small turnout at the Terrace meeting. ‘Waste disposal isn’t a very exciting topic.’’ Nonetheless, space
for sanitary landfills In B.C. is running out and, exciting or not, solutions have to be found. With Rabbitt are
Ministry of Environment technical advisors, Dave Douglas (left) and Robert Willlams.

at the meeting, but concern was
expressed, not over the volume
of waste, but with the content of
the waste. It was pointed out
that hazardous products such as
pesticides aren’t recyclable and

don’t belong in a land fill pro-

ject. Rabbitt responded by say-
ing that this concern had been
raised before and there may be
two basic solutions: consumer
education and a_ refundable
deposit that would go to the con-
sumer upon return of the con-
tainer.

Rabbitt pointed out during.

the evening that no recommen-
dations have yet been formed,
but generally speaking the future
of solid waste disposal may look
something like this: residents
would have two containers in
their homes, one for recyclables
and one for garbage. When put
out for pickup, a garbage truck
would be followed by another
vehicle that would pick up and
sort recyclables.

This, he says, would provide
both an incentive and a non-
incentive.
ticipating would have larger
volumes of waste but would pay
for it, and those who did par-
ticipate would save money. Ac-
cording to Rabbitt this system
has been used successfully by the
municipality of Delta for the

. past few months and is already:

being. looked at by other com-
munities, |

: In order to make. this work, .
however, Rabbitt ‘says that our

society must change. According
to Rabbitt, throw-away goods
are consumer-driven, That is,
manufacturers produce throw-
away products because that’s
what consumers want — and
this whole philosophy has to
change in order to prevent what

ehe says could become an en-

vironmental nightmare.
At the current rate of useage,

says Rabbitt, 60 percent of the:

Those not par-

province’s landfills are expected
to be full in 10 years, and 90 per-
cent could be full within 20

‘years. Also of growing concern

is the use of plastics in all kinds
of disposables — from fast food

containers to disposable diapers. .

These, he says, are creating an
environmental concern that may
be difficult to deal with.

There are a few side notes to
the meeting however which in-
dicate that even the Task Force

“still has a distance to go before

adopting a new philosophy on
the generation and disposal of
solid wastes. The first is Task
Force’s information package —
it was sent out to hundreds of
media outlets. and community
leaders, and consists of hun-
dreds of pages weighing 830
grams {about two pounds). This
amounts to hundreds of pounds
of paper that will probably be
fully read by only a few.

The second item of note was
really out of their control but
demonstrates how easily our
society has accepted the throw-
away concept — coffee was serv-
ed in styrofoam cups. As it turn-

©

ed out, the Terrace Hotel didn’t °

have enough china so they turn-
ed to the easy alternative of the

throw-away. Rabbitt strongly
urged everyone to use the same
cup when they went back for a
refill.

~ ASSISTANCE FOR STORM DAMAGE

ASSESSMENT APPLICATIONS:

Terrace.
ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES: ‘

landscaping losses.
landscaping losses.

landscaping losses.

ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES:

be required.

FROM GENERAL FLOODING IN NORTHWEST BRITISH COLUMBIA

Your Provincial Government is surveying and determining the extent of loss and damage to property of
individuals, farms, small businesses, charitable organizations and municipalities affected by storms occurring
on or about September 27-29, 1988.

Assessment Application forms and information packages are available at municipal, district and regional
district offices located at Hagensborg, Hazelton, New Hazelton, Kitimat-Stikine, Smithers and Terrace.
Packages are also available at Government Agent offices located at Bella Coola; Kitimat, Smithers and

CLAIMS WILL BE LIMITED to those falling within the following categories:
1. Where a creek, river or lake overtakes its banks causing flooding, exclusive of erosion or

2. Where a creek or river erodes its banks and causes property damage, exclusive of erosion or
3. Where a creek or river changes ¢ courses and causes property damage, exclusive of erosion or

4. Where land slippage or slide causes property damage, exclusive of erosion or landscaping losses.
N.B. « Damages incurred as a result of backup of drains, escape of water from setvers or surface water runoff -
are not eligible for compensation. ,

Recreational property/buildings do not qualify for assistance. —

Individuals, farms, small businesses, charitable organizations and municipalities who wish to have their .
storm damage appraised are advised that all Assessment Application forms must be submitted by November -
30, 1988 to the nearest Gavernment Agent's office or sent directly to the Assessing firm of Brouwer Claims
Canada & Co. Ltd. at 4603 K Park Avenue, Terrace, B.C. V8G 4V1, Telephone (604) 635-7733. A

It is imperative that Assessment Application forms be obtained without delay, completed in detail and
returned promptly to facilitate early examination of damages. Along with these forms related insurance
policies, tax notices, proof of ownership, property titles and detailed lists of items damaged or destroyed will

’ Those seeking assistance are further advised it is advantageous to salvage and conduct whatever emergency
cleaning and repairs necessary to reduce the loss. Details pertaining to the above should be listed and held
for examination by assessors when personal inspections are conducted.

Province of
British Columbia

Ministry of Solicitor Ganeral
Provincial Emergency Program

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