T.O. trash could be turned to ash

TORONTO — The trash crisis looming over Canada’s largest city could be partly solved by one of Toronto’s municipal neighbors.

According to Canadian Press, Halton Region plans to build a plant in Milton, Ont. that could take as much as 70 percent of the GTA’s solid waste and turn it into electricity.

Toronto’s trash may soon be dumped in its neighbor’s
backyard rather than trucked to Michigan

The plant facility would use incineration or other thermal technologies to turn garbage to electricity — and a potential financial boost for the region to the west of Toronto.

The goal is to have a running by 2009, Halton’s chair Joyce Savoline told CP.

About 100 trucks loaded with Toronto’s trash heads for Michigan landfills everyday.

However, several politicians in that State are petitioning to restrict entry of Toronto’s trash and even ban it all together.

The Senate approved this summer a Homeland Security bill, which imposes high inspection fees of about $420 per truck. While regulators say the proposal is intended to increase security, other politicians aren’t shy about admitting the legislation could discourage trucking carriers and their customers — namely the City of Toronto — from hauling garbage to the U.S.

Meanwhile, skyrocketing trucking costs from fuel and border delays are hiking up Toronto’s trash transportation bill.

— with files from CP