46 - Sunday, January 28, 1990 - North shore News Ds Ovr MENT « among the three. Those are the top priorities set By JOHN PIFER by B.C.'s environment minister From Victoria , 2 canaoian FOXY ~~ WW neem he Nature Trust of British Columbia, a charitable organization, was establisned in 1971 and is dedicated to the conservation of areas of ecologi- cal significance in British Columbia. In the past 20 years we have received donations from govern- ment agencies, corporations and foundations and invested over $10 million in 150 conservation projects to conserve more than 25,000 acres of marsh, grass- lands, forest and mountain and the species they nurture. The Nature Trust is now appealing to the public for donations to continue with its conservation activities. PHOTO BY GRAHAM OSBORNE after his first 12 weeks in the post, following three years as Speaker of In an exclusive interview the House. the News earlier this month, with the For all of us forever “We have not inherited the earth from our fathers; we are borrowing it from our children.” — Lester R. Brown West) Vancouver-Howe Sound the Environment “is not just for MLA outlined his primary con- show,’” cerns, presented his credentiais as a “We could have found all sorts long-time environmentalist, and of Socreds to sit on the committee: offered methods that the veneral but we went for problem solvers, public can use to help improve the and for people who have been in- environment. volved in protecting the environ- Reynolds also stressed that the = ment.” recently-formed Round Table on The mandate of the 31-member advisory body is to develop ‘a clear stratezy for achieving and promoting sustainable develop- ment’ in the province. Members include business executives, lab- byists, environmentatists, union officials, and municipal — politi- cians. Before turning to his three priorities, Reynolds maintained that he has always been concerned about abuse of the environment. “tam not one of those born- again environmentalists,’’ he said. “Back in 1972, | ran for Parlia- ment on a platform which called for full tertiary sewage treatment. And in Delta, 1 opposed Van- couver’s plan to dump its solid garbage in that municipality. I do recognize the need to take care of this world we live in.”’ His prime concern is the issue of pollution from pulp mills in B.C., and it tops the fist of subjects for the round table to address. “Some mills, such as Port Mellon, have shown that through modern technology they can meet the acceptable levels we have set, well before the deadline. Others will be carefully watched to ensure that they do not continue to eeé o o 937 ” ‘ a s. The environment is our future Pot et ate Meckereie mill was closed voluntarily when it failed to meet the standards, rather than face the possibility of a severe fine. Legislation brought in last year gives B.C. the biggest fines - for pollution — up to $3 million — in Canada, and Reynolds said the government ‘tis prepared to enact it.” Canadian Occidental Chemicals Ltd. The environment minister said his series of mectings with the owners and operators of the mills 100 Amherst Avenue North Vancouver, B.C. V7H 154 j{ over the past few weeks were rewarding. Time is short and the chal- lenge is enormous if we are to continue to protect and conserve ecologically significant lands. By donating to and supporting The Nature Trust you may assured your gift will assist in safeguarding natural habitats and their wildlife. The Nature Trust The Nature Trust of Sritish Columbia #909 - 100 Park Royal South, West Vancouver, B.C. V7T 1A2 (604) 925-1128 Donations are tax deductible. Pollution, garbage and sewage ENVIRONMENT MINISTER JOHN REYNOLDS MAKES HIS PRIORITIES JOHN REYNOLDS’ political life is now full of pollution, garbage and sewage ... and dealing with the distinctions “We convinced them that we are serious about cleaning up their act.” He praised the decision of Flet- cher Challenge Canada to establish a vice-president for the environ- ment. “This was not just a PR gesture. Ron Wasnow is an expert in the field of protection of the environ- ment." Other major forest companies are sure to follow that lead, he ad- ded. Gurbage is fast becoming one of the biggest environmental head- aches both for provincial and for municipal vovernments, said Reynolds. He said curb recycling programs and the establishment of key recycling plants were starting to cat away al the province’s garbage mountain, but it was going to cost money to complete and to sustain the projects. “The Nanaimo recycling plant will serve as a prototype for another to be set up in B.C. Within three years, Nanaimo will be capable of processing garbage from every regional district in the province,’’ Reynolds said. Vancouver is about to launch a program for recycling commercial garbage, which will reduce the growing landfills, and allow im- proved recycling of newsprint. ‘Incineration is not the answer; recycling is. The Nanaimo plant will produce refuse pellets which burn cleaner than coal or hog fuel. {t will include a de-tinning centre and allow for the separation of plastics,’’ Reynolds enthused. He added that hazardous waste is also a priority problem, and a pilot project is being sct up at Matsqui to tackle the issue. When it comes to sewage, Reynolds said the goyernment “simply will not accept raw sewage being dumped into the Fraser River or into the ocean. We must have controls, regardless of the cost involved, to eliminate sewage outfalls draining into our waters.”’ He said action is needed im- rnediately on the problem, and the ministry is studying technologies old and new to solve it. Even the “‘ancient’’ method of having the liquid waste run through anthracite coal has possibilities for modern use, he said. “We will explore every direction or possible solution to solve the problem, and the sooner the bet- ter,’' said Reynolds. Joint funding with Ouawa for some of the proposals will also be reviewed. To that end, Reynolds will meet Jan. 30 with his federal counter- part, Lucien Bouchard, in Ottawa to resolve any competing, conflic- ting or duplicating problems be- tween the two ministries. An inereased budget for the full-fledged ministry is a certainty in next month's throne speech, but through special! levies and taxation, some of the projects can be self- perpetuating, Reynolds said. “One of the most important things for us to do is to educate the public on what they can do to help. Whether it's as simple as tak- ing their awn reusable bags to the grocery store of f0 separate their domestic zerbaze for recycling, it will become pari of our consider- able effort to tinprove the situa- tion,’* he said. “Tremain enthusiastic that all of us, along with the 1,200 dedicated people in my ministry, can make a difference. We have to — there is too much at stake."* Put your waste on a diet RECYCLE.