The *real* reason

Posted by Magda

The reason for the closure of the city's wet plant in the summer of 2006 has long been a hot topic around here. Now, the city's new plan for its trash has this to say:

The city successfully operated the Wet-Dry-Plus program until 2006 when a series of structural issues and complaints about off-site odour impacts from the organic waste processing facility forced that facility closure (page 25).

I remember -- fondly -- an intense debate with my former colleague, Brian Whitwham. A few councillors had told him the plant was closed because of odour problems; I insisted it was because of the decaying roof. Here's what he ended up writing in February, 2007:

In a vaguely worded motion last May, the previous council closed the facility shortly after the city had been denied a federal-provincial grant to fix the roof. But several members of the previous council have said they intended to close the plant because the Ministry of the Environment had concerns about alleged odours from the facility.

I couldn't remember what the actual motion said, so I looked it up this afternoon (page 9):

Whereas the city has requested that the Ministry of the Environment issue an order to facilitate an air management pilot project at the organic facility and such an order has not yet been received by the city;

And whereas the city has requested from the MOE various amendments to the Certificate of Approval for the Waste Resource Innovation Centre and such amendments have not yet been received by the city;

And whereas the city's application for COMRIF funding for the necessary upgrades to the organic facility has not been approved;

And whereas the city intends to continue to divert its organic waste from landfill;

Therefore be it resolved:
1. That the City of Guelph temporarily cease receiving and processing organic waste at the organic facility as soon as technically feasible and in compliance with all approvals and regulations;

2. That during this period of interim cessation of processing organic waste at the organic facility, staff be directed to divert, as soon as possible, organic waste from the landfill, and that staff be authorized to issue an appropriate RFP;

3. That the MOE be requested to respond to the City of Guelph's prior request for the issuance of an order and for amendments to the City's Certificate of Approval;

4. That staff be directed to report back on feasible options for the diversion of organic waste from landfill including funding implications;

5. That the city undertake the strategic plan for solid waste management, as approved in the 2006 budget.

(The motion, by the way, passed unanimously, with Laura Baily, Christine Billings, David Birtwistle, Lise Burcher, Cathy Downer, Ray Ferraro, Rocco Furfaro, Peter Hamtak, Maggie Laidlaw, Dan Moziar, Dan Schnurr and Mayor Quarrie voting for, and Gloria Kovach absent.)

I've got to say I'm a little miffed by the fact the motion doesn't match up with the reasons given in the report.

And, of course, by the fact that Whitwham was right.

Comments

[Harry]

Magda:

Welcome to the world of misinformation that is alive and well and living in Guelph.
The City was warned by Court Galvanizing when they were building the plant that galvanized steel would not suffice. Only a high quality steel product could survive the toxic composting environment. That was dutifully ignored. ask the retired General Manager of Court if you want verification.
City staff has not yet learned that there are people like yourself who actually go back and check out what positions relly were.
There are two types of errors - Errors of ommission, and errors of commission.
Errors of commission are foregivable, someone made an honest mistake, and while a reprimand is in order, it is forgivable.
But errors of Commission are not forgivable.
When discovered, there is only one course of action - take all the legal courses available and fire the perpetrator. To misrepresent the facts is reprehensible, and you can see why the people who live in the Dunlop Street area have a complete lack of trust in Guelph staff. They have been misinformed time after time, and yet the City persists in wanting to reopen the toxic and very expensive compost facility in spite of all the concerns. If they in fact do so over all the objections from that area, they are potentially opening the City to one expensive lawsuit in the event that the reincarnation of the compost plant fails - and mark my words - IT WILL FAIL!

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