Adopt (YOUR) Block

We all need to take action

Isn't it great! Winter has finally ended?? The snow has melted from our streets, boulevards and sidewalks. We can put away our snow gear and get out our walking shoes. So go take a walk around your block and look what the warmer weather reveals. In a word, what we have is a mess; a mess of winter debris - plastic water bottles, coffee cups, pop cans, plastic bag, etc. etc.  Our neighbourhoods are particularly messy during this transition period.

In the last couple of weeks I've received three or four emails from residents who have, on their own volition, gone out and done a clean-up around their block.

Richard writes:
"Once again my kids and I did our annual clean up the winter waste exercise. This year unfortunately we doubled the amount of garbage we collected from our same block. We would like to challenge other families to do the same. Perhaps the city of Vaughan can facilitate an innovative program to get other families out there to improve their neighbourhoods. It's a win-win situation and teaches children the importance of caring for the environment".

Ruth also wrote to me:
"It's that time of year when spring is in the air and garbage is on the streets.  Lots of it.  I have already spent hours filling green garbage bags from my neighbourhood, and feel it is an uphill battle. Wondering if there is something we can do to make our beautiful neighbourhood look less like a garbage dump and more like a beautiful community".

So the question is; what are you going to do about the mess? The answer is; "Adopt Your Block."

While Vaughan takes part in the 20 minute makeover each April 22 and the municipality does street cleaning at some point in the spring - I noticed one of our street sweepers on Clarke Ave in mid-March, I still believe that we need some grass roots action - hence - "Adopt YOUR Block."

Here is what it is all about:

Go for a walk around the block that you live in. Now, I hardly have to say that the walk by itself is going to do you some good. We all know that walking is a great exercise. But hold on. Before you leave your driveway, head into the garage, grab a pair of gloves and a couple of bags. (if you can, also grab a couple of your kids!!) Now start your walk.

Figure out how far you want to go. To the end of the block is probably a start, but maybe find a few neighbours to go with you and you can go completely around your block.

And as you walk pick up the abandoned plastic water bottle at the end of your driveway and the piece of paper at your neighbours. Put them in one bag. Go further and pick up the discarded plastic bag and put it in the other bag - do you get it??? One bag is for recycling and the other goes to garbage. By the end of your block, as you return to your own driveway, I would guess you will have two pretty full bags. You will also feel pretty good about your contribution to your neighbourhood.

And we, at W5 Update, would like to recognize you for your efforts. Just email me with some information about what block you adopted, how much recycling and garbage you collected and any interesting stories along the way and I will recognize you in a future edition of my little newsletter.  

FLASH!!

The City Street Sweeping program is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 30, 2009. It is anticipated that it will take approximately 3 weeks to complete this initial sweeping of all City streets. The actual completion time will be dependent upon the weather.

We are Number One !!!!

A recent report by Waste Diversion Ontario calculates York Region's diversion rate of 45.7% (for 2007) the best of all large municipalities in Ontario. In only one year the Region's diversion rate went up over 5%. That is a huge increase in such a short time. Preliminary figures for 2008 show a continued increase in our diversion rates as well. "Diversion" is the term used to describe all of the waste that is removed from the garbage stream through the blue box, green bin and yard waste systems. This achievement is due to the responsiveness of the residents of York Region, who acted upon the initiatives of the Region and all its municipalities to reduce the amount of our waste going to landfill and other disposal methods.

So What's Next?

Vaughan is doing great - we are at least at the Regional rate of diversion if not a bit higher. With the Dongara Pellet plant fully operational at Highway 407 and 27 (it's to the right when you go off the westbound ramp) now taking all of our excess waste and converting it into pellets used for fuel purposes, we might actually consider that we are now at close to 100% diversion. At least it is not going to landfill anymore. At the same time we need to start to tackle the problem of the waste we can't divert to our green bins and blue boxes.

You can take a lead role in reducing our waste further. Refuse the plastic bags that every store attempts to give you when you check out. Bring your reusable bags with you - it seems everyone has a growing collection of them - and insist that your groceries are packed in them. Don't buy single use water bottles. The City has already banned their use. They are both terribly overpriced and end up on our streets as litter. Go buy yourself one of those very neat looking metal reusable water bottles instead. Besides, our municipal water systems are rated at just about the best in Ontario. 

We are doing great, but what else can each of us do?

We need to do better in a number of areas, but especially in our high rise buildings. The newer buildings, thanks to a requirement that Vaughan Council put in place a couple of years ago, require three stream recycling built into new structures. Some of the older buildings are making attempts at recycling, but it is not easy unless the recycling facilities are convenient. It is important to note that most high rise buildings in the City are responsible for their own waste management.

One wonderful initiative is being developed under the leadership of Stanley Smith, President, York Region Condo Corporation No. 963, located near the Bathurst and Steeles intersection. Mr. Smith made a very interesting presentation at the last Vaughan Environment Committee meeting. At that time he requested assistance from the City to help promote and educate condo residents about recycling in high rise buildings. He is also proposing a "competition" amongst condominiums in the area as well as holding workshops to educate condo residents.

Election Promises??

For many politicians who make  "promises" during an election, the day after they are elected, the promises get tossed into a drawer and don't seem to come out. Am I being too cynical? Perhaps, but this stereotype is one of the reasons that I try not to make specific "promises" but rather commit myself to do the best job possible as a Councillor on behalf of the electors. I try to emphasize the areas that I have special interest in and talk about the things that I would like to do around those issues. During the last election I talked about one of my favourite topics, the environment - Greening Vaughan and recycling were ongoing themes. Another issue was about consultation and communications with residents: We need to find better, more effective ways to consult with our citizens earlier in our planning process. Finally, one of my ongoing themes was about what we can do to help keep our neighbourhoods clean and beautiful. In the next few issues of the W5 Update, I intend to talk about how I've tried to carry these themes forward starting with cleaning up our neighbourhoods by Adopting Your Block.  

Have your say on the future of Yonge Street

Monday, March 30, 2009 at 7:00 at the Dufferin Clark Community Centre

For the last number of months planning consultants hired by the City have been marching up and down Yonge Street (and Steeles Ave. from Hilda to Yonge), trying to figure out what would be the best way to plan the future for the Vaughan section of the longest street in the world. 

The study area includes all of Yonge Street (situated in the City of Vaughan) except for the Thornhill Village area which is already covered by a recently approved plan and is officially designated an Historic District. It considers the very different settings along the southern part of Yonge between Steeles and the RR bridge and the current structures of small plazas facing the Uplands area.  

As part of the process to come up with the draft plan, we have sponsored a variety of community meetings and exercises to get input from residents who may be most impacted by the plan. For example on March 12 about  twenty five residents of Crestwood Road came to a consultation session to talk about some ideas about how development on Steeles might impact upon their properties. At the meeting they were presented with the options and voted on their preference. That preference will be included in the draft plan.  

On Monday, March 30, 2009 at 7:00 at the Dufferin Clark Community Centre a community consultation meeting will be held to unveil the draft plan and to consult with residents on their response to what is being proposed. This is your chance to have a say on this most important gateway street in our city.  

We want to hear from you. We value your comments on the future of our City. 

PUN OF THE DAY - A Short One

Bill took Kate as his wife while still married to Edith. He got caught, was charged and had to go to court. Sentencing him for bigamy the judge declared: "You can't have your Kate and Edith too."

The Where is this in Ward 5?

- Photo Contest

Look very carefully at this picture. Do you see anything that stands out as being pretty strange? I was out taking some photographs the other day and came across this. So now we have a contest.

Here's the way it works. The first three people who can tell W5 Update where these totally bizarre trees are located will have their names published in the next edition of the Update. Isn't that a great prize? Or better yet, I'm sure I won't get any takers on this prize - If you are the first person who responds correctly, it will be my (personal - no, not from my office expenses!!) treat to buy you a donut and a coffee at Tim Hortons.

I can be reached at 905-832-8585 ext 8349 or by email at alan.shefman@vaughan.ca

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