TORONTO, September 10, 2004 -- York University Prof. Lewis Molot says that it’s much too early to tell whether Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry will be successful in limiting Toronto’s waste exports to Michigan, even if elected.

 

Molot, a professor in York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies, has been following Toronto’s garbage woes closely. He adds that in a swing state like Michigan, it’s no surprise that Toronto’s garbage has become part of the election rhetoric.

 

“Even so, this is a reminder that the problem of disposing of Toronto’s garbage is not going to go away,” says Molot. “Kerry’s statement points to the fact that even with a very successful recycling program -- that might reach 50% of our garbage in a few years -- Toronto will still generate massive quantities of waste in need of disposal by landfill or incineration.”

 

“The lesson in all this is that whether Toronto’s garbage goes to Michigan or goes to another community, Toronto is avoiding the only solid waste disposal method that is available within its own borders -- incineration.  In fact, the main reason we export waste to communities beyond Toronto, regardless of the disposal method employed, is because their voters cannot vote for Toronto mayor and council members.”

 

In addition to waste management, Molot’s research includes studying the effects of multiple environmental stresses on lakes in central Ontario. The study sites have been the major focus of a long-term environmental monitoring project and have proven extremely useful in studying the effects of cottage development, acidification, climate change, mercury contamination and ultraviolet radiation - all of which can affect the landscape simultaneously.

 

York University is the leading interdisciplinary teaching and research university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city.  The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of nearly 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 180,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 faculties and 21 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries.  This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges.

 

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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Ken Turriff, Media Relations, 416-736-2100, ext. 22086 / kturriff@yorku.ca

 

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