MiltonBlog.com

West Nile virus still a concern
Release Date: Sep 21, 07

Four batches of mosquitoes collected last week in Halton Region have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV): two positive batches in Burlington and two positive batches in Oakville. These are the first positive mosquitoes found in Oakville this year and the third and fourth positive batches in Burlington, bringing the total of positive batches for Halton Region to eight.

"These four new positive batches of mosquitoes serve as reminders that the risk of West Nile virus is not yet over for this season," said Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton Region's Medical Officer of Health. "People still need to take precautions until the weather turns cold enough to have had several hard frosts."

Mosquitoes can transmit WNV to humans after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus. The following are steps that residents can take to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:

Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.

Avoid being outdoors in the early evening to morning. This is when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.

Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.

Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET.

To report a dead bird or standing water, or for more information about West Nile virus, please call Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866), TTY 905-827-9833 or email wnv@halton.ca.

Halton Council approves waste collection changes to increase recycling and reduce garbage
Release Date: Sep 20, 07

Halton Regional Council has approved changes to waste collection for Halton residents intended to increase the amount of recycling and reduce the amount of garbage. The changes will make recycling more convenient for residents with acceptable Blue Box materials going in one container and the introduction of the GreenCart program to all homes in Spring 2008. They should also extend the lifespan of the Region's landfill site by diverting more waste.

At its meeting on September 19, Regional Council approved the following changes in waste collection to take effect April 7, 2008:

Implementation of a Region-wide GreenCart program to over 140,000 homes in Halton (currently a demonstration program in 5,000 homes)
Weekly Blue Box Collection (currently bi-weekly)
Garbage collection every other week with a six-bag limit (currently weekly)

"The direction taken by Halton Regional Council to enhance recycling and increase diversion is a step forward to extend the life of our landfill site by another six to eight years", said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. "The increased emphasis on recycling is a sustainable approach to waste management, and should help in raising Halton’s waste diversion rate to the target of 60 per cent from the current 43 per cent."

Earlier this year, at a meeting on May 30, Regional Council approved Report PPW 79-07, which endorsed the implementation of a Region-wide GreenCart program along with weekly Blue Box collection and bi-weekly garbage collection, subject to and as part of the awards of the 2007 Waste Collection and Processing Contracts. Report PPW144-07 outlining the costs for these recommended service levels and awarding residential waste collection to Miller Waste Systems (MWS) was approved by Regional Council on September 19.

MWS currently provides waste collection including Blue Box and Organic Waste (GreenCart) to over 500,000 residential households in Ajax, Markham, Oshawa, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Whitby and now Vaughn. Halton’s current waste collection contract expires on January 31, 2008 and has been extended to April 4, to ensure sufficient time for the new waste collection contractor to acquire equipment and resources while allowing the Region to properly prepare to introduce the new services.

"An integrated waste management system is truly a program evolution and will allow us to manage our residential waste efficiently and in a cost-effective way," added Peter Crockett, Halton's Commissioner of Planning and Public Works. "It will make it easier for residents to participate in our recycling programs and should result in more waste being recycled than what is being sent to landfill. In addition, Halton Region will continue to be responsible for and manage its own waste."

Under the waste collection system taking effect April 7, 2008, garbage and yard waste collected by MWS will be delivered to the Halton Waste Management Site at 5400 Regional Road 25 in Milton. Blue Box and GreenCart materials collected by MWS will be taken to two waste transfer stations. Regional Council has authorized staff to negotiate transfer station agreements with Leferink Transfer Limited in Georgetown and Walker Industries in Burlington. Blue Box materials will be sent from the waste transfer stations to Halton Recycling Limited in Burlington for processing and GreenCart materials will be processed by AIM Waste Management at the City of Hamilton’s composting facility.

The delivery of GreenCarts and Kitchen Catchers to residents will take place in March 2008. Delivered with the carts will be an information package to help residents use the GreenCart and answer questions they may have. The GreenCart is like a Blue Box for your kitchen scraps. It collects household food waste, which is composted into material for use in landscaping, agriculture and restoration projects.

In addition, effective April 7, 2008, Blue Box materials will be able to be co-mingled in one box and will no longer have to be separated into two boxes. Currently glass, plastic, metal and polycoat containers go in one Blue Box and acceptable paper materials in another. Advances in technology and changes in the marketplace have allowed the Region to change the way of collecting and processing recycling materials.

The changes to waste collection are part of the 2006-2010 Solid Waste Management Strategy (SWMS), approved by Regional Council in June 2006, to reach the 60 per cent target diversion rate and increase the life of the landfill. In the coming months Halton Region will be communicating the changes through advertising, community outreach and promotion. Residents can find more information on Halton waste management programs and services by visiting the website www.halton.ca/waste, or by calling 905-825-6000 or toll-free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866).

Halton High Schools Eligible to Apply For Grants in Support of Tobacco-free Living
Release Date: Sep 24, 07

Halton high schools can begin applying for $1,000 grants for prevention and cessation activities that support tobacco-free living.

"The High School Grant Program provides a terrific opportunity for Halton schools to engage youth in leadership activities that will positively influence the school environment, and ultimately the health of Halton youth," said Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton Region's Medical Officer of Health. "Based on the success of last year’s program, the Ministry of Health Promotion is offering the program again."

The Program, which has been running for three consecutive years, has a total of $31,000 available for 2007/08. Projects may include public education and awareness events and smoking cessation related activities. All high schools in Halton are eligible to apply for a $1,000 grant and applicants can include student groups, teachers and parent organizations. Applications are due October 22.

A participant from one school said it, “gave students the opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle and practice preventative techniques. The students who participated in this action received information, new fitness goals and a fun outlet to handle stress."

Schools will automatically qualify for the grant if they have students and a staff/parent advisor attend a Tobacco Advocacy Training Workshop being held October 19-20, 2007. This two-day workshop will educate students about the tobacco industry and their marketing tactics, and will help students to gain valuable advocacy, communication and media skills (in addition to helping schools plan and complete the grant application).