Category Archives: Waste management

03.28.09
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The insightful tale of two hours

Ian McCallum

Ian McCallum


Talk about lights out.
It appears the powers to be at city hall were totally unaware of Earth Hour, to be observed this evening, until T-J reporter Kyle Rea contacted the mayor’s office on Monday of this week.
After that phone call, the city scrambled into action and registered Tuesday for the world-wide event.
The observance “slipped under the radar,” admitted Mayor Cliff Barwick to our erstwhile reporter.
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03.22.09
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Turn landfill trash into ethanol

Official IGPC plant opening in Aylmer, December, 2008

Official IGPC plant opening in Aylmer, December, 2008

Posted by Ian:
With an ethanol plant now up and running in our own backyard, this proposal should prove intriguing for St. Thomas and Elgin. Moreso in light of increasing complaints about the current municipal waste contractor. BFI.

Ethanol demand is growing rapidly. At the same time, entire countries are running out of landfill space. So why not take care of two issues at once and turn all that excess trash into ethanol?
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01.17.09
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Dealing with the tender topic of trash

Ian McCallum

Ian McCallum


Judging by complaints from residents received since Christmas and concerns raised by council and city staff, it’s obvious the waste management agreement with BFI Canada is a tender issue … as in it’s time to throw this contract open to other bidders.
The fact BFI district manager Dave Raney was a no-show at Monday’s council meeting and instead forwarded a letter of clarification to John Dewancker, director of environmental services, sends a message the waste management firm will play hardball when the two sides meet Jan. 30 to resolve outstanding issues.
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01.10.09
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Waste management ambiguities prove odoriferous

Ian McCallum

Ian McCallum


Difficult to predict what will prove more odoriferous, dealing with
the city’s current waste management agreement — a “contract of
contradictions” — or the wall of silence surrounding the hiring of
the city’s first waste management coordinator.
The existing contract between the city and BFI Canada Inc., dates
back to the days of Bob McCaig and the Green Lane Environmental Group and was signed in 1994.
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