July 6, 2009, 5 e-mails

From: Councillor Vaughan

Councillor Adam Vaughan and Scadding Court Community Centre Open a Community Compost Site for Ward 20

Toronto- As we enter the third week of the strike by City workers many Toronto residents are looking for sustainable ways to manage the trash build up in their homes and communities.

Although the City is not collecting organic waste during the labour disruption - Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) has partnered with the Scadding Court Community Centre to set up a Community Compost Site for local residents.

Starting on Monday July 6th, the staff and community gardeners at Scadding Court Community Centre invite Ward 20 residents to bring their organic waste to their compost site.

Councillor Vaughan hopes that " this partnership will help us to build our parks and community programming in spite of the strike instead of damaging precious neighbourhood resources." [...]

Composting is a little different from the City's usual Green Bin Organics Collection Program.

The Ward 20 Scadding Court Community Organics Site only accepts the following items:

- fruit and vegetable waste - noodles, rice, cereals, breads and grains - coffee grounds, tea and egg shells

Please do not bring:

- meat or fish scraps - dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) - food waste that has been cooked in oils or fats - plastic bags or packaging - paper products - bathroom waste - including diapers, tissue, hair, or sanitary products - dog waste

These items will NOT be accepted.

Collect your kitchen waste in a reusable, washable container - bring it to Scadding Court to add to the compost pile! Take your container home with you to begin your next collection.

The Ward 20 Scadding Court Community Organics site opens on Monday July 6th, 2009 at 10 am and will be open the duration of the labour disruption.

C. P wrote:

I see Adam Vaughan is announcing a "Community Compost Site for Ward 20 residents".

This is not for most of us here but is an interesting idea. I wonder how difficult it would be to stop dumping of inappropriate materials.

B. S wrote:

To keep you appraised of what we are currently doing: I've been busy this day opening the channels to pose the three questions to the Mayor's office and to CUPE national *on behalf of FoCPP*. They are there now, being considered and I hope to get some answer soon. It very simply boils down to the following. Can we please get the garbage out of the park. Now. Yes, or no?

Tonight, Rogers has requested a live telephone interview and that may give me an opportunity to say something about this initiative. The questions are below.

We know that the City's temporary dump- and storage sites pose risks to human health and to the environment that can not be eliminated by pest control measures. What I would like to ask are the following two questions:

(1) Of the Mayor: If CUPE Local 416/79 would temporarily suspend their job action to remove the garbage and residue from Christie Pits Park, and thereby eliminate the currently existing hazards to health and environment, would the City allow and support this?

Of CUPE: If the City would allow this, could CUPE Local 416 temporarily suspend their labour action to remove the garbage and residue from Christie Pits Park and eliminate the currently existing hazards to health and the environment?

(2) Of both parties: In case the answer to either is "No", would the City or CUPE stand in the way if private citizens were to organize the removal and appropriate disposal of the garbage that is currently piled in Christie Pits Park?

M. M. wrote:

Hello B. - I am in awe of your many abilities in analyzing a multitude of issues. You have a balanced and informed approach, excellent technical info., and have been an excellent spokesperson. I have been chairing the TDSB Eco-committee at Hawthorne school this past year. So, although I don't live in the neighbourhood this is the closest park to our school, and in fact is used year-round by the school. We also have many friends who live in close proximity to the park.

My one concern with your very interesting proposal, is that if the citizens privately arrange for garbage removal, are we not setting a precedent that lets the city 'off the hook' for their apparently not- well-thought-out actions in the first place? It seems that the creativity and reasonableness of citizens, while very necessary, has a slippery outcome of allowing the situation to be prolonged, and enabling the city to not be responsible for literally 'cleaning up their own mess'. They have budget, they have personnel and many more resources than we as private citizens to deal with such a tremendous and complicated issue of safe removal and disposal.

THANK YOU for all the work you are doing on behalf of so many citizens. It is much appreciated!!!

From: Howard Shapiro MD MSc FRCPC
Associate Medical Officer of Health

I am writing on behalf of Toronto Public Health in response to your email regarding Moss Park.

Information on the pest control products being applied at the temporary garbage sites can be found at: http://www.toronto.ca/labour-relations/pesticide-odour-control.htm . The MSDS sheets for Generation Mini Blocks (rodenticide) and Dragnet FT (insecticide) are available online:

http://www.yorku.ca/dohs/documents/msds/5113600.pdf

http://www.liphatech.com/Documents/US/MSDS/Generation/ENG_GEN_MiniBlocks_MSDS.pdf

Temporary garbage sites are inspected daily and pest control products are applied on an as needed basis. Toronto Public Health has confirmed with the pest control company that the application of these products will occur between 9pm and 7am. Measures are in place to minimize the risk of these products extending beyond the garbage sites.

Permethrin (the active ingredient in the sprayed insecticide), is used in agriculture for application on crops. Eating foods sprayed with permethrin is a common source of exposure. As with all fruits and vegetables, make sure to wash the produce from your community garden thoroughly before consuming to reduce exposure to potential contaminants from all sources.

Sincerely,

Howard Shapiro MD MSc FRCPC Associate Medical Officer of Health