|
Published - Oct 28th, 2009
By Ben Forrest
HURON PARK – A sharp drop in commodity prices has contributed to a $1.14 million reduction in revenue for the Bluewater Recycling Association (BRA) this year.
This according to BRA president Francis Veilleux, who told the Times-Advocate his organization received an average of $190 per tonne for its commodities in August 2008 but saw that number drop to $49 per tonne by December.
By August 2009 the price was up around $84 per tonne, but BRA has still taken a significant hit.
“As soon as the U.S. economy crashed and they stopped buying, nobody produced any goods, so they didn’t need any raw materials,” Veilleux said. “As a result, the commodity prices dropped.”
Veilleux noted some auto companies halted or reduced production on cars, reducing the need for steel.
The demand for beer and pop cans decreased as well, he said, along with plastic products, which are recycled into polyester for clothing and carpet, among other things.
BRA is not the only recycling company to suffer from low commodities prices. In March, CNN.com reported commodities prices at about $37 per ton in Georgia, down from $160 the previous August.
In Berkeley, California, recyclables were down to $35 per ton, down from about $200 per ton the previous fall.
In Atlanta, weekly curbside pickup was reduced to bi-weekly collection to cope with costs, according to the report.
At BRA, the revenue shortfall, together with ongoing upgrades to its Huron Park recycling plant, have caused the company to retain funds from Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) that would otherwise be distributed to its member municipalities.
That has raised eyebrows from some on Lucan Biddulph council, including Mayor Tom McLaughlin.
“I’m not sure that’s the way to do it – fix your revenue stream with what I thought should be flowed back to the municipalities,” McLaughlin said in a recent interview.
Veilleux said the measure likely wouldn’t have been necessary if commodities hadn’t crashed, but when revenue is cut by $1 million, the money has to come from somewhere.
He said the municipalities who share ownership of the BRA aren’t paying to upgrade the Huron Park plant, a project expected to cost $4.5 million.
“We’re making a $4.5 million investment in a facility without a dime from them, so at some point the money has to come from somewhere,” he said.
The upgrades are being made to accommodate BRA’s forthcoming automated collection service, which will be phased in over the next five years.
As previously reported, BRA plans to get rid of traditional blue boxes and replace them with wheeled bins that will be dumped into collection trucks using a mechanical arm.
St. Marys has been used as a pilot project for automated collection since October 2008.
Veilleux said the upgrades at Huron Park are on schedule and the BRA hopes to see it up and running by Dec. 1.
In the meantime, recyclables are being sent to Guelph and Toronto for processing.
Related Stories
| |
|
|
|
|
HENSALL – A public meeting was held in Hensall Nov. 18 to allow for public input on a draft improvement plan for the village.
The plan was prepared for the Municipality of Bluewater by Glenn Tunnock, a planning consultant based in Eastern Ontario, and sets out a series of potential measures for upgrading Hensall with both public and private
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
With Christmas season in full swing, the OPP’s Western Region is once again reminding drivers of the dangers of drinking and driving.
As in years past, the OPP are ready to embark on its OPP Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign, which kicks off Friday and continues until Jan. 2, 2010.
It’s unfortunate drivers need
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Since he entered the National Basketball Association in 1996, Allen Iverson has been among his sport's most polarizing figures.
Among basketball fans who also regularly played the game, he had few detractors. Dude had quickness we all dreamed of, toughness that was unparalleled and an ability to score that was almost unrivaled.
Many of us grew up
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just short – Exeter Hawks player Thomas Harnett (right) tries unsuccessfully to slip the puck past an Ayr Centennials goalie during a 4-3 Exeter win. (photo/Scott Nixon)
EXETER – The Exeter Hawks battled two difficult opponents on the weekend, beating the Ayr Centennials 4-3 at home
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Skating Club fundraiser — The fourth annual Exeter Skating Club Christmas Home Tour was the best year yet, according to co-ordinator Heather McArter. Nearly 450 people visited the five homes on the tour, helping to raise about $4,000 for the skating club. McArter said holding the event on the Friday and Saturday this year, as opposed to t
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
SOUTH HURON — The municipality continues to move forward with a project to reconstruct the infrastructure in Huron Park.
At its Nov. 2 meeting, South Huron council approved tenders to the low bidders on phases two and three of the project.
As previously reported, the municipality has planned a major $6.8 million project in Huron Park tha
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sailing through – Lucan Irish player Chris Van Kasteren (left) rounds the corner during a game against the Port Dover Sailors Nov. 18. Lucan won the game 9-2. (photo/Scott Nixon)
LUCAN – The Lucan Irish are not the class of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League (SOJHL) this season, but
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Local manufacturers should be smiling today as they count the awards they picked up at last week’s Huron Manufacturing Awards banquet in Clinton.
As one peruses through the list of winners, one thing becomes obvious — most of the winners come from the Times-Advocate’s coverage area, specifically from South Huron and Hensall.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
With the Nov. 11 Remembrance Day ceremonies better attended than ever before, it is evident that Canadians have started to acknowledge their military heritage and maybe even take pride in it.
However, one area of our military history is still lacking as was shown by the History Channel, when after its week of documentaries, it decided to show &ldqu
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
SOUTH HURON — There will be no break for Grand Cove residents when it comes to water and wastewater rates, at least not anytime soon.
As previously reported in the Times-Advocate, Grand Cove residents and a lawyer for the land lease development's owners have appeared before council to express their disagreement with the municipality's new wa
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
ST. MARYS — It’s crunch time for the Salvation Army. As Christmas draws nearer, and more families than ever apply for help, the area food bank is urgently looking for donations to make the holiday as bright as possible for as many as possible.
There were three days of applications in St. Marys and one in Exeter last week, but the St. Ma
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
MILVERTON – The Lucan Ilderton Jets hit a rough patch on the weekend, losing 3-2 to Clinton Friday night and 6-4 to Milverton Saturday night.
Better to have it now than in January, said Jets general manager Rob Andrews in an interview.
Though both Clinton and Milverton are strong teams, the Jets didn’t play well, Andrews said.
&ldq
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Big winner — It was a near-sweep of the Huron Manufacturing Awards by local companies last week. Above, Goderich Aircraft of Huron Park came away with the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award and an ‘Innovative Manufacturing’ award. Pictured from left are senior project manager Pawel Pach, vice-president of sales Andy Orr,
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking for a cure — Siblings Meghan and Justin Reid are taking part in a study that hopes to help find a cure for Crohn’s disease. Meghan, 24, has Crohn’s, while Justin, 18, does not. Justin said he wanted to take part in the study so he could help his sister. (photo/Scott Nixon)
EXETER — Eighteen-
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Doing battle – Hawks player Scott Muirhead (left) chases after the puck during a win Friday night against the Burford Bulldogs. (photo/Karen Morrison)
EXETER – The Exeter Hawks hosted the Burford Bulldogs Friday night, winning 5-2 before dropping a 4-3 decision Saturday against North Middlesex.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
SOUTH HURON — While the property owner won't reveal the name of the business yet, a discount retailer plans to be open in the former Darling's grocery store building at the corner of Main and Sanders streets in the spring of 2010.
Planning assistant Tristalyn Russell attended Monday's council meeting to discuss the development and upda
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
EXETER – The 20th Annual Exeter and District Ringette Memorial Tournament is running this weekend, Saturday at the South Huron Recreation Centre and both Saturday and Sunday at the Hensall arena.
The tournament is named in memory of Ron Ferguson, a former coach, and over 20 teams will be participating.
Though the number of teams and div
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
LUCAN – Physician recruitment is a major issue for many Ontario municipalities these days, and the Township of Lucan Biddulph is no different.
But a proposed overhaul of a program that provides incentives for doctors to practice in underserviced areas could leave Lucan Biddulph at a competitive disadvantage.
It's something that leaves Mayor
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
LUCAN – The Lucan Irish came up short in a string of recent games, losing 7-4 to St. George Nov. 11, dropping a 5-3 decision to Thamesford Saturday and losing 11-6 to Lambeth Sunday afternoon.
All three games started well for the Irish, who posted early leads but suffered lapses later on that proved costly.
Against St. George, Lucan le
|
|
|
|
