Whitby and Clarington weigh in on waste issues

WHITBY -- Clarington may have picked up more trash during Pitch In Week this yea,r but that only means Whitby's recycling program is working.

That was Whitby council's reaction to the announcement of Clarington's win in a competition between the municipalities to pick up the most garbage from April 21 to 27.

The Town presented Clarington Mayor Jim Abernethy with a certificate of congratulations at a Whitby council meeting Monday night.

During Pitch In Week, both municipalities participated in a variety of events and activities aimed at cleaning up the community. Both councils agreed the municipality that collected the most garbage by weight would receive congratulations during a televised council meeting.

Mayor Abernethy announced the results, which were 13.83 metric tonnes of garbage collected by Clarington, compared to 4.72 metric tonnes in Whitby.

"That's a surprising number," he said. "It tells us that people continue to throw garbage into the environment and disregard nature."

The numbers are indicative of Whitby's "grand recycling program," Whitby Mayor Pat Perkins said, adding that council always encourages friendly competition to promote better communities.

In March, Whitby challenged Clarington to see which community would achieve the highest waste diversion rate in 2008. Whitby had a 68 per cent diversion rate in 2007 compared to 43 per cent in Clarington.

Clarington initially refused the challenge, saying the municipalities were not playing on level ground. In Whitby, garbage is collected on a biweekly basis, while recycling and green box waste gets picked up weekly. Clarington has the opposite schedule, as garbage is picked up weekly and recycling done biweekly.

Mayor Abernethy compared the original request to the Toronto Maple Leafs challenging a peewee hockey team to a game. The friendly competition during Pitch In Week helped push the issue and keep it in people's minds while ensuring an even shot for both municipalities, he said.

"The purpose was not to see who could collect the most garbage but to try and build awareness," Mayor Abernethy said. "We can increase and improve the recycling rates we have with a little more work and understanding."

In April 2009, Clarington will follow in Whitby's footsteps when the municipality's collection schedule is adjusted. The regional goal for waste diversion is 70 per cent by 2010.

"When it (changes), we will be on your heels and hope to surpass the rates you have achieved," Mayor Abernethy said.

Whitby Councillor Gerry Emm said he appreciated Clarington's attempt to meet the challenge in its own way by making clear the goal was to raise awareness about the need for recycling and changing people's behaviours.

"We all benefit from it," he said. "Clarington has a long way to go but you will achieve what we've achieved in Whitby."