HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-04-25, Page 1Teachers’ Art Day
Blyth to host
PD Day on arts
See page 18
Crusaders saluted
Congratulations to the champs
See page 1445
Funny Potatoes
Potato People
bring laughter
See page 27
Move away from returnables angers municipalities
BY BONNIE GROPP
Area environmentalists and poli
ticians are frustrated and disap
pointed by Environment Minister
Jim Bradley’s recently announced
plan to get rid of a requirement that
says soft drink bottlers must pro
vide 30 per cent of their product in
refillable bottles.
A lawyer for soft drink compan
ies stated that consumer demand
shows a preference for cans and the
Ministry says with the success of
recycling people are not as con
cerned about using them. But. as
Grey Township Clerk Brad Kfiight
points out what choice does the
consumer really have. “You can't
find anything returnable in an
individual drink,” he says.
“There’s no way they can meet the
refillable contract, because they
have nothing to offer.’’
With landfill sites inundated
with glass and market demand low,
recycling committees are not happy
with the plan. Mr. Knight said
when they heard about the dropp-
K mg of the quota, they contacted
Katherine Simpson a waste dispos
al advisor with the Ministry about
the concerns, and she reportedly
stated that it was a little prema
ture. The ministry has not yet
ironed out details as the govern
ment still plans to require bottlers
to use some refillables. It was
under the advisement of the pro
vince’s recycling advisory commit
tee that Mr. Bradley accepted in
principle the recommendation to
drop the ratios. ' - .
“The government’s original poli
cy on waste management was
reuse, reduce and recycle, says
Brussels Clerk Hugh Hanly. “By
telling the soft drink producers
there is no quota, they are rever
sing the three “R’s”.
The result is that recycling is
going to become a costlier venture.
“The net energy cost of reusing is
far less than the net energy cost to
recycle,’’ said Mr. Hanly. “The
manufacturers just don’t want the
hassle involved on returnables, so
from their view it’s cost saving.”
Mr. Knight agrees that recycling
is only going to get more costly, if
the small groups are expected to be
responsible. “To pay three people
to shovel glass for four or five hours
is expensive and if one thing is
wrong the whole load can be
rejected. The way it’s going we’ll
oon get only $25 - $30 for eight ton
< A glass.
In dropping the quota require
ment everyone agrees that the only
one to benefit is the soft-drink
manufacturers. “The soft drink
companies paid one-third of the
blue box program initially, so Mr.
Bradley says let’s forget the 30 per
Continued on page 25
Firemen battle fire
Exhausted Blyth firemen battled
a large grass fire south of Auburn
for three hours Monday afternoon
working to keep the fire from
getting into a nearby cedar bush.
Blyth Fire Chief Paul Josling
said the task was made particularly
bad because the firemen were
unable to get their trucks to the site
of the fire and had to beat out the
flames with shovels and whatever
else they could use. Local farmer
Garnet Wright finally plowed fire
breaks around the area to bring the
fire under control.
The fire was located on a farm off
the Base Line south of County road
15. About 30 to 35 acres of grass
was burned in the blaze.
Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel,
Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships.
VOL. 6 NO. 17 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1990.50 CENTS
Learning young
Blyth Cubsand Scoutsgot an early start on Earth Day Saturday planting trees on area farms. Here
with the help of leaders they untie bundles of cedar and spruce seedlings to be planted on Herb
Shannon’s farm in Blyth. All this week area schools are taking part in Earth Week activities.
One ratepayer
protests
zone change
While almost everyone in Brus
sels would agree that a 12-unit
apartment complex would be a
positive step for the village they
would also agree that not everyone
would welcome one in their back
yard.
That was the major concern
voiced by one ratepayer at a public
meeting held in the Brussels
Library last Wednesday evening to
discuss the proposed zoning
change that would see the tennis
courts on Elizabeth St., moved to
the east side of the Community
Centre in order to make way for a
two-storey walk-in apartment com
plex geared to mature families.
“Just to voice an opinion, I
would rather see two nice homes
built there than what you are
proposing,” said Jane Draper, who
owns a neighbouring property.
Wayne Caldwell of the Huron
County Planning Department ex
plained that the re-zoning would be
from institutional to high-density
residential to allow for the com
plex.
Developer Rob Lawrie, who owns
a similar unit in Blyth detailed the
plans to the gathering and present
ed blueprints for their perusal. He
stated that the brick structure
would be built on the paved area
where the old arena had stood and
would be a foot longer and wider
than the one in Blyth.
The front of the building will face
east, while the parking lot will be in
back off Alexander St. and will
accommodate 12 vehicles, though
there will be space for additional
parking in front, according to Mr.
Lawrie, who added his intention to
gear the complex to the mature
renters.
Mrs. Draper asked him at this
point if it wasn’t a fact that there is
a law that states you can’t refuse to
rent to couples with children. Mr.
Lawrie stated that while this was
true, the rent of $550-$600 is one
few families could afford.
In response'to a question from
Mr. Caldwell concerning the space
outside the structure, Mr. Lawrie
explained that there would be 12
feet on each side of the building.
Mr. Caldwell explained that
according to an existing by-law Tor
the municipality there is a provi
sion included for a planting strip
between areas zoned low density
and high density residential. This
Continued on page 8