PVC Vote in Toronto

[morag@web.apc.org (Morag Simpson)]

30th April, 1996

After another late (but not all night) session at Toronto City
Council last night we moved to the final vote on the resolution
that would have Toronto be the first City in North America to
phase-out (not ban) its purchase of PVC. As on previous occasions
the debate was techy, some would say even acrimonious at times with
lots of heavy duty industry posturing that almost backfired on the
industry lobby. (A couple of the Councillors including the Mayor
said that they had come into the discussion last night willing to
support everything except a phase-out, but that some of the
discussion led by Councillors who supported industry had almost
made them change their minds and vote for the Board of Health
recommendations)

As we expected, we didn't ultimately win on the actual words
phase-out, but there were nevertheless some significant victories.
Some of these refer to other layers of government and jurisdiction.
For the record here they are:

*That Health Canada be requested to address the potential health
and environmental impacts of materials used in the drinking water
distribution system and establish enforceable controls on the
quality of materials as part of the development of any regulations
under the proposed Canadian Drinking Water Safety Act

*That Environment Canada and Industry Canada be requested to ensure
that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with  the Vinyl Council
of Canada include the following provisions: that the vinyl industry
fund an independent life cycle analysis of health and environmental
impacts of PVC containing products; use technologies which do not
produce emissions and use state of the art abatement measures to
prevent accidental spills and releases.

*That the Acting Medical Officer of Health report to the Board of
Health and City Services Committee on the substance and
implications of the MoU between Environment Canada, Industry Canada
and the Vinyl Council of Canada when it is available.

*That the National research Council of Canada be requested to
compile and assess information on the environmental and health
impacts of different pipe materials on a life cycle basis, to
assist users in making environmentally prudent purchase decisions.

*That the City of Toronto ensures that when it disposes of waste
material containing PVC, the material will not be sent to an
incinerator, it must be recycled or landfilled.

*That only ductile iron pipe or concrete will be used for water
lines installed in soils that are contaminated with substances,
such as solvents or hydrocarbons, that can permeate through plastic
or PVC pipe.

*That the City of Toronto request that the Province of Ontario and
the Federal Government introduce legislation or regulations that
will prevent the disposal of PVC waste by incinerator.

Additionally there were a few amendments agreed on: 

*That City Council request Environment Canada and Industry Canada
to expedite the development of the MoU with the Vinyl Council of
Canada to identify, prioritize, develop and implement programs for
issues related to the environmental impacts of the vinyl industry,
after adequate public consultation.

*That the Vinyl Council of Canada request its member companies to
initiate discussions with appropriate government agencies and
unions to develop plans that will protect workers and communities
during a transition to manufacturing process that do not involve
the use or release of persistent toxic substances such as
organochlorines 

*That City Council express its continued support for the virtual
elimination or persistent toxic substances such as organochlorines
to the environment.

*That the Acting Commissioner of Public Works and the Environment,
in consultation with the Acting Medical Officer of Health report to
the Board of Health on the feasibility of testing for contaminants
in drinking water carried by PVC waterlines through contaminated
land.

*That City Council request Health Canada to include testing for
pesticides permeating through PVC pipe in their leaching test.

*That City Council request the Acting Fire Chief to report on
setting up dioxin residues tests for scenes of fires.

Where to now? Clearly this debate in Toronto has moved the public
policy debate about PVC forward significantly, not only here in
Toronto, but across the country. In the Ontario Provincial
Legislature one of the members introduced a Private Members Bill
that addresses the PVC issue last week as a direct result of the
Toronto debate (that so far at least enjoys cross-party support),
and Federal Minister of the Environment Sergio Marchi is thinking
hard about what to do with the Memorandum of Understanding that his
Ministry has been negotiating with the vinyl industry because of
the public outcry over the issue. One thing is certain, given the
level of media and public interest in the issue, the debate is not
going to go away. 

Still strugglin'

Morag

FOr more information contact
Morag Simpson (Greenpeace Canada)  416-597-8408
Lois Corbett (Toronto Environemntal Alliance)  416-596-0660
Scott Sederstrom (Great Lakes United) 313-998-0760