A compliment from a county councillor here led to a commentary on modern living that had councillors trying to hold back their laughter at county council Oct. 29.
When councillor Bob Wilson presented his solid waste services committee report, councillor Barb McKay complimented county staff for an excellent arrangement to collect electronic waste.
The county held three events at various sites on a Saturday in September, and McKay said it was popular in the Puslinch area. She said people are hoping the county will host the collection again next year. The county had made arrangements for a recycler to pick up used electronics for salvaging.
Solid waste services committee chairman Wilson said line-ups were so long that in some cases, people gave up and left. He said it might be feasible to hold such collections every six months because, “People change their TVs and computers these days like they change their underwear.”
When the laughter died down, councillor Lou Maieron wondered if some of the county transfer stations could be sites where people could drop off such items. He said the sites could provide a container, and when it is filled, it could be hauled to a recyclers. He said that is just a suggestion since the collection so well received.
Wilson explained such a proposal “may or may not be possible at a transfer station.” He explained the county cannot arbitrarily decide what it will collect at transfer stations – the Ministry of Environment controls that.
He called Maieron’s idea “a noble thought” but said, “With the provincial government involved, we’re doing as they suggest.”
Maieron said perhaps the county could ask the MOE about expanded collection at the transfer stations. He said even a trial might be worthwhile, and it would not even have to be at all transfer stations. “We know the MOE is pushing to have that waste removed from the landfill,” Maieron added.
Wilson said the committee will look into the possibility.
