It has been ever so long since I've taken the time to write an entry here. It's not that there hasn't been tons going on --- totally the opposite in fact. And when we get through an especially busy day or important happening, on the way home, I always think .. I have to write something up. But it hasn't happened. And when I wake up in the middle of the night and start to re-visit the happenings, can't get back to sleep and could turn on the computer and write something up, I just don't.
We have had great highs and real kick-us-again-why-don't-you days during the last while. The good always outweighs the not-so-good. And the composting folks for whom we work (aka the members of The Composting Council of Canada) mean so much to us.
But last night --- well. A "leadership" debate focused on environmental issues in Ontario happened. I was so looking forward to hearing their visions and being inspired. The 13 environmental groups who organized it did a great "above and beyond" service.
The first blow to my evening was to read the stated priorities from the environmental coalition and to see that that their first "waste" priority (there were priorities for boreal forest; energy; Great Lakes; Greenbelt; toxics as well) was:
Put the 3Rs first: Develop a comprehensive study fo the current provincial waste stream with a provincial waste reduction target of 60% by 2012.
Ah. Come on.
The whole country had a 50% diversion objective by the Year 2000. Only Nova Scotia hit it.
Ontario then re-stated the diversion objective to 60% by the Year 2008. It is not going to be met.
And now enviro-groups are going to "allow" a re-statement of the same objective, changing the timeline to 2012?
The evening got even better when each of the parties (Liberal, NDP, Conservatives, Green) focused their "waste" vision totally on Producer Responsibility and bashing packaging excesses.
Not one of them focused on the fact that organics make up close to 50% of the "waste" stream and that the solution to all diversion targets will be found when a comprehensive strategy for organics residuals recovery is the focus.
Not one political party said anything. And the 13 enviro-groups did not much better.
We have so much work still to do.