22 - Friday, June 28, 1991 — North Shore News Mixed impressions from the eco-front LAST WEEK was nothing if not varied. [ spent nearly every day attending some kind of environmental event, and was left with impressions that ranged from hopeful to despairing. First off was the Vancouver meeting of the British Columbia Round Tabie on the Environment and the Economy, where I heard a number of people put forward their environment-enhancing pro- posals. It is hard to see how all the in- formation presented from such a wide variety of sources and inter- est groups can ever be sifted and funnelled into a sustainable devel- opment strategy. For an explanation of the Round Table, its mandate, a brief overview of the industries it will be studying and a listing of the documents available, call 1-387- 5422 and ask for a copy of A Bet- ter Way. People who missed the Van- couver public forum but would like to send a written submission to the Round Table can get in- formation from this same number. Next it was off to a Wednesday night public forum organized as part of the Air and Waste Management Association conven- tion and emceed by CKNW radio host Bill Good. Topics covered at this forum included the management of household hazardous wastes and the relative merits of polystyrene and paper when used for disposable applications such as fast food packaging. The first subject, household hazardous waste management, is particularly topical because it’s currently being bandied about like a political hot potato in this pro- vince. While municipalities consider it a provincial responsibility, the province is in fact looking at decreasing its funding for events such as the drop-off weekends that were held last year. Some sources have said that the Peggy Trendell-Whitiaker ECOINFO province may fund 25% of the cost of such an event this year. If that was the case, Al Lynch of the North Shore Recycling Program estimates that a drop-off weekend would run to approximately $200,000, leaving the three North Shore municipalities with a $150,000 bill to pay — something he is doubtful they will be willing to do. As a result, houscholders are not being offered many options when it comes to the responsible disposal of the nine gallons of hazardous waste each Canadian household is said to generate each year. There is a hazardous waste drop-off site in Surrey (call 660- 1177 for info), but most people will probably find it more prac- tical to store their paints, pesticides, etc. until our govern- ments sort this one out. According to the speaker from Laidlaw Environmental Services, the experience of Ontario has shown that the waste is more ef- fectively managed at the municipal level. “Its not an easy pill to swallow,”” she admitted when | asked her about the prohibitive cost, but she says that an effective hazardous waste management plan can help the municipalities cut some of their other disposal cosis. This forum took a sharp turn for the absurd with two of the other speakers, men representing the plastics industry, and, in my opinion, doing a pretty poor job of it. One man immediately lost cred- ibility with me when he went on the warpath and claimed that most of the public’s perceptions about plastic and the environment were ‘‘myths.”” Two that stuck in my head were the ‘tmyths’’ that plastics are used to ‘‘unnecessarily overpackage’’ products and that they kill birds and marine life. Well, give me a break. I don’t believe that all plastics should be banned from the face of the earth, and I know that plastic has im- portant, useful applications. But to deny that they aren’t a factor in overpackaging, and to deny evidence that show wildlife strangled by plastic six-pack rings is not going to win the industry any friends. Both speakers for the plastics industry used fascinating forms of rather convoluted logic, that ran along the lines of ‘‘we’re really only a small percentage of the problem, so why should we worry about it?’” I was disappointed that these speakers didn’t use the opportuni- ty to really engage in some pro- ductive dialogue. However, some very good, balanced information came our way irom Dermott Foley of SPEC and Ruth CLotzkar of the En- vironmentally Sound Packaging Coalition. I've asked Ruth for a copy of her presentation, which contained some interesting notes on the “cradle to grave’’ studies that have been used to compare the environmental impact of paper and polystyrene, and will pass on information as I receive it. Ive no space feft to talk about the Recycling Council of B.C. an- Friday at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel, but suffice it to say that it was very well attended and had the benefit of good speakers such as Ron Driedger, B.C.’s director of municipal solid and biomedical nual genera meeting that was held — waste. BAY CITY Insurance Services Lid. 10-1199 LYNN VALLEY ROAD NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. Located outside Lynn Valiey Centre between Shoppers Drug Mart and Homelife Bay City Reality. #We are open during the giong weekend to renew sf 8 your Quitepian Car insurance.| We would also be pleased § Eto assist you with following: § ® Homeowners « Boat « Business miniums ® Tenants ° Travel » Condo MasterCard and Visa accepted Shelley Baker cat BAY CITY Insurance Services for all your insurance needs 986-1155 RECYCLE YOUR PHONE This year the North Shore Recycling Program is making it easy for you — in the parking lot of each location listed below you'll find a large recycling bin for depositing your old telephone books. Drop them off anytime between now and July 31! That’s all there is to it! LOOK FOR THE TELEPHONE BOOK RECYGLING BINS IN THE PARKING LOTS OF THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS North Vancouver: Safeway - Westview Shopping Centre Safeway - Lynn Valley Centre Safeway - 13th & Lonsdale Ave. Riverside Recycling Depot - Riverside & Spicer Rd. eS FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: West Vancouver: e Someplace Special - Caulfeild Village Shopping Mall (Upper Levels Hwy. - Exit No. 4) ® Woodward's World of Food - N. Park Royal SUPPORTED BY: ry NORTH SHORE RECYCLING PROGRAM eo 984-9730 BC Tele Canada Safeway