HomeMy WebLinkAboutOPD-003-06
Clwil1gton
REPORT
OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: April 1 0, 2006
Report #: OPD-003-06
File #:
By-Law #:
Subject:
CLARINGTON PITCH-IN CANADA EVENTS
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Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration
Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report OPD-003-06 be received' for information.
Submitted by:
JM-
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Reviewed by:
Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
B.A., RD.M.R, RRF.A.
Director of Operations
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REPORT NO. OPD-003-06
PAGE 2
BACKGROUND:
Pitch In Canada is a national non-profit organization founded in 1967 by several
volunteers about the proliferation of packaging and its effects on the land and
marine environment. They recognized that personal action with assistance from
but not dependant on governments and other stakeholders is needed to
conserve, enhance and protect the environment and to reduce and reuse waste.
Pitch In Canada involves millions of volunteers in various programs from cleaning
up and beautifying streams, wilderness, and urban areas to initiating recycling
and composting programs.
2006 INITIATIVES
The 2006 Pitch In Day will take place Saturday, April 29th across the Municipality
of Clarington.
Staff has contacted all schools and asked them to participate in a 20 Minute
Makeover initiative with a goal of 100,000 minutes of participation. We are
placing advertisements in newspapers and posters at public locations to promote
our events. We will also concentrate on some specific areas of the Municipality
and hopefully through this campaign we may increase the awareness of littering.
Some initiatives for this year include:
· Household Hazardous Waste drop off (waiting for approval from Region)
· Removal of advertising signs off poles/posts
· Business partnerships especially Tim Horton's, McDonald's, Coffee Time,
Burger King and Wendy's
· National Cell Phone Collection Program
· E-Waste (collection of old computers for recycling)
ILLEGAL DUMPING
Staff continues to struggle with the amount of materials that are dumped along
roadsides and unopened road allowances. Most of the materials are dumped to
avoid disposal fees or the time and effort required for proper disposal. Dumped
waste includes abandoned vehicles and parts, furniture, yard waste, household
REPORT NO. OPD-003-06
PAGE 3
waste and construction waste. It is normal for the Department to receive reports
of five to seven dumpings per month with an average monthly cost for labour and
equipment between $3,500.00 - $5,000.00. Illegal dumping occurs at any time
but is more common at night or in the early morning and the sites are usually
accessible and poorly lit. Staff will continue to monitor and work with respective
agencies in attempts of controlling this activity.
ANTI LITTERING TEAM REGION OF DURHAM
In 2005 the area municipalities the Region established the Durham Municipal
Anti Littering Team with the objective of establishing a region wide anti littering
strategy. The focus of the Team was to identify key partners who would be
effective in our campaign against litter.
The Team is expected to meet again in 2006 to develop strategies and
partnerships with the business community, schools and government agencies.
More discussions with Canada Post and the Ministry of Transportation are
required if we are to establish an effective Clarington strategy.
CONCLUSION
Many individuals and organizations have worked for the past few years to
conduct cleanups across the Municipality.
The "Pitch In Week" is an excellent community based program that encourages
Community involvement, promotes volunteerism and instills Clarington pride.
Staff will continue to wage the fight against litter through education, collaboration
and enforcement.
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905) 263-2291 F (905) 263-4433