Fall 2010 - Region of Durham

Transcription

DURHAM
REGION
Durham Works
A NEWSLETTER FROM THE DURHAM REGION WORKS DEPARTMENT
Fall/Winter 2010
Construction on Taunton Road comes to an end
The final stretch of the Taunton Road widening, just west of Townline Road in Oshawa.
By the end of this year, the widening of Taunton Road from Pickering to
Clarington will be done. In 1990, construction began to connect the
west limit of Taunton Road in Pickering to Steeles Avenue in Toronto.
Over the course of the last 20 years, more than 20 Regional contracts
have been completed to widen Taunton Road, with the final contract
extending into Clarington.
The widening of Taunton Road began in Pickering where the famous
Twelvetrees Bridge was constructed in the early 1990s. Improvements
were then completed between 1991 and 1999, from Brock Street in
Whitby to Simcoe Street in Oshawa, to address development pressures
in these municipalities. Intersection improvements at Westney Road,
Salem Road, Audley Road and Lake Ridge Road in Ajax were completed
between 1999 and 2004 to address intersection capacity issues, while
development pressures in 2000 saw a widening in Oshawa from Ritson
Road to Grandview Street.
The final widenings of Taunton Road were completed between 2006
and 2010 in Ajax from Church Street to Audley Road, in Whitby from
Lake Ridge Road to Brock Street, and in Oshawa from Grandview Street
to Townline Road. The road work is scheduled to be finished in
December, at which time all lanes of Taunton Road will reopen.
Big Blue hits Durham
Residents across Durham should have received their new big blue box between
Sept. 27 and Oct. 29. These new boxes are for collecting recyclable containers
only, such as pop cans, shampoo bottles, jars and other containers. The bigger
blue boxes should help residents recycle more by increasing capacity.
In 2009, the Region looked at the Blue Box program and found that almost one
quarter of residents had only one blue box. Based on the results of these audits,
most households will benefit from the extra capacity gained by using an
additional, larger blue box.
Continued on page 5.
DURHAM WORKS
End of an era as old Headquarters comes down
Almost 50 years ago, the building at 601 Rossland Rd. E. was
called the County of Ontario Court House and Administration
building. More recently its been home to the Ontario Courts and
the Region of Durham headquarters. Almost 50 days ago, its
demolition began.
Back in 1973, the Province of Ontario passed The Regional
Municipality of Durham Act, and in January 1974, the Region
began operating from the former headquarters building, along with
the Ontario courts. The Regional Municipality of Durham officially
opened the current headquarters location in October 2005.
Even though the demolition of the former Regional Headquarters
building was completed in October, the story does not end there.
Former Regional Municipality of Durham headquarters.
Thanks to building material salvage and recycling efforts, many parts of the old
building were diverted from landfill. The demolition involved a large amount of
manual effort to remove and recycle materials from inside the building. This
process included the sorting of the actual building materials, such as the
concrete and steel for additional recycling.
Long-term plans have not been finalized for the building site, which is next to
the current Regional Headquarters at 605 Rossland Rd. E. In the meantime,
the site will be temporarily landscaped. The new Durham Regional Council is
expected to make a final decision on the plans in 2011.
Demolition of former Regional Municipality of Durham headquarters.
Built-in energy-efficiency with ASHRAE standard
In our continuing efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, the Region of Durham is
building to the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 standard. ASHRAE is the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. and is an energy-saving
standard for all buildings, with the exception of low-rise residential buildings.
Currently, the Ontario Building Code has also adopted the ASHRAE 90.1-2004
standard. The 2007 standard improves energy efficiency of the building over 15 per
cent from the 2004 standard. Recently, two of the Region's newest buildings, the
emergency medical services (EMS) stations in Pickering and Courtice, were
constructed to this standard. Future buildings being designed to this standard are
the Durham Region Police Service's Taunton Road firing range and communications
centre, as well as Durham Region Transit's Westney Road facility.
In addition to the energy-efficiency benefits, conforming to ASHRAE standards helps
keep the air inside buildings clean by requiring precise levels of mechanical
ventilation, and, therefore, greatly reducing indoor air pollution.
Pickering EMS station.
ASHRAE 90.1-2007 partners with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and is mandated by the American National Standard Institute
(ANSI). Complying with this standard also ensures that the Region meets the basic requirements of another well known energy-saving standard: the
LEED certification.
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TRANSPORTATION
LED traffic control signals light up our intersections
Traffic control signals across Durham Region are more energy efficient since the move to light emitting
diodes (LED). The LED Conversion program to replace all incandescent signal bulbs began in 2007.
The Region of Durham Works Department's Traffic Engineering & Operations Division is responsible for the
maintenance of the 545 traffic control signals and 55 warning signals across the region, including those
under the jurisdiction of the local municipalities and the Province of Ontario. Converting the signals to LEDs
has significantly reduced electricity costs and, indirectly, greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the LEDs
are expected to last 10 years or even longer depending how often they are on -- far longer than
incandescent bulbs, which need to be replaced every year.
The LED Conversion program was an important initiative to sustain positive change for drivers, taxpayers
and the environment. The program is yet another example of the Region's dedication to conservation.
Benefits of the LED Conversion program:
More efficient use of power (85 per cent reduction), which lowers cost and greenhouse gas
emissions.
Supports environmental objectives as outlined in the Durham Region Strategic Plan.
Increased safety and reduced collision potential at signalized intersections due to much brighter LED
signal heads.
Reduced traffic signal maintenance costs for yearly routine relamping and emergency lamp call-outs.
One of Durham’s traffic signal technicians
installs a LED traffic light.
Ensuring sound bridges in Durham
Three of the Region's largest bridges were recently inspected using an exclusive Bridgemaster
inspection truck. There are only two of these machines in all of Ontario! During the summer,
the Region worked with Almon Equipment Limited to undertake visual close-up inspections of
the bridges. The structures included: the Twelvetrees Bridge in Pickering, the Regional Road
57 Bridge over Bowmanville Creek in Clarington and the Trent Canal Overpass in Brock.
The Bridgemaster has multiple articulated booms which enable detailed close-up inspection to
be done on areas of bridges normally inaccessible for visual inspections. In fact, this unique
equipment was designed specifically for bridge inspections and maintenance. While one
operator drives the truck, a second operator controls the boom arm, which can hold a
maximum of three people. Using remote controls, the operator in the bucket moves the
bucket up and over the railing of the bridge, then underneath the bridge. This enables the
Region's bridge inspector to look along the underside of the bridge for any structural
deficiencies such as cracks, missing or loose bolts and any deterioration in the concrete.
Inspection of bridge using Bridgemaster, on Regional
Road 57 over Bowmanville Creek in Clarington.
The Region is responsible for the maintenance of 215 structures. The goal of Durham's approach to structure management is to provide safe,
serviceable structures that are sustainable for future use. The Region works towards achieving these management objectives through annual
inspections, administration of a bridge management system, ongoing routine maintenance, structure rehabilitation, and structural replacements when
the structure has become functionally obsolete or has experienced excessive deterioration of key components. More than 60 per cent of Durham
Region's structures were constructed in the 1960s and 1970s, and many of these structures are coming due for rehabilitation in the near future.
3
WATER SUPPLY
Don't flush your money away
Durham’s water supply
Continuing to be a leader in water quality, The
Regional Municipality of Durham has successfully
implemented the Drinking Water Quality
Management Standard (DWQMS); a regulatory
requirement under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The leaks in your home
that may waste the
most water are often
the most difficult to
detect. This is because
leaks are often silent
and invisible. In fact, it
is not unusual for a
leaking toilet to result
in a water bill as high
as $1,000*. Reporting
your water meter
readings frequently can
ensure accurate billing
and help detect costly
leaks early.
Years before the DWQMS, Durham's water supply
system was the first in North America to successfully implement and
integrate all three management systems upon which the the DWQMS
is based. The DWQMS incorporates portions of the following ISO
registrations into one made-for-Ontario system: the Environmental
Management Standard or ISO 14001 (which focuses on identifying and
reducing environmental impacts), the Quality Management Standard
(ISO 9001), and the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (which is
a food safety standard).
Durham Region is also one of the first municipalities to be issued
Municipal Drinking Water Licenses (MDWL) for water supply systems
based on requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Often, people are
under the impression
that a leak will result in
a large amount of
water on the floor.
However, this is not
usually the case. In
fact, the most common toilet leak is caused by a deficient flapper valve.
The best way to detect a leaking flapper is to put a few drops of food
colouring in the toilet tank. If the colour begins to appear in the bowl
after a few minutes, the flapper is leaking and needs replacing.
For more information on the standard and the requirements, please
visit the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's website at
www.ontario.ca/drinkingwater. For more information on Durham
Region’s DWQMS or MDWL, or to get a copy of Durham’s Drinking
Water Quality Report, email works@durham.ca, or call 905-668-7711
or 1-800-372-1102.
Durham Region Works Department
FREE WATER EFFICIENCY BROCHURES
ORDER FORM
Many toilets have unique or proprietary flappers. It is essential to buy
the proper replacement flapper to repair leaks. Getting the wrong flapper
can also increase the flush volume of a six-litre toilet to that of a 13-litre
toilet. Where possible, use the replacement flapper recommended by the
manufacturer. To get the right flapper, consult www.toiletflapper.org.
When you go to buy a new flapper, take the old one with you to ensure
you get an identical replacement.
Please send me:
Household Guide to Water Efficiency,
Third Edition
Water Efficient Gardening
Healthy Lawn Care
Gauging Your Lawn Watering
How to Buy an Efficient Toilet
Figure A shows the underside of a typical sixlitre flapper. Note the opening along the left
side of the cone. Six-litre flappers are
characterized by either a slit or a round hole
at the base of the cone. These openings
ensure that they close at the correct rate, so
they don't use more than six litres per flush.
To order your selection, clearly fill out and mail, or fax, this form to:
Durham Region Works Department, Water Efficient Durham
605 Rossland Rd. E., Box 623, Whitby, ON L1N 6A3
Fax: 905-668-2051
A toilet leak can also be caused by the level of water in the tank being
too high. The water would then go through the overflow tube and down
the drain. Look under the tank to check the water level.
For email orders, please supply your name and address, along with
your brochure request to: waterefficientdurham@durham.ca.
Name:
___________________________________________
Address:
___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Figure A.
For additional tips on detecting and repairing leaks, order your copy of
the Household Guide to Water Efficiency by using the form on this page,
or visit Durham's website at www.durham.ca/waterbilling.
4
* Quoted from Finance Department's brochure: Detect Leaks and Save Money.
DURHAM WORKS
Stay safe on Durham's roads
Did you know that about one-in-three traffic
accidents take place in intersections where there's a
traffic control signal? Everyone who uses our roads
has a role to play in keeping them safe; from drivers,
to bicyclists and pedestrians. Although you can't
control the actions of others, you can do something
about your driving, riding and crossing habits by
following some simple rules.
Pedestrians should:
u Only cross at marked crosswalks or at traffic
u
u
u
u
u
u
control signals, not in the middle of the
block or between parked cars.
Always push the pedestrian button to
activate the pedestrian crossing indicator.
Be alert to traffic and remember to stop,
look and listen.
Make sure drivers see you before you cross.
Cross only at the beginning of a “Walk”
symbol.
Watch for traffic turning at intersections.
Do not wear headphones or talk on a cell
phone while crossing at intersections.
Bicyclists should:
u Use “right turn”, “left turn” and “stop”
hand signals.
Motorists should:
u Drive cautiously. Don’t let other motorists
pressure you.
u Be patient; especially with older
u Add a rear view mirror to your bicycle.
u Use bike lanes or designated bike routes
whenever possible.
u
u Do not ride too close to parked cars. Doors
can open suddenly.
u Stop at stop signs and obey traffic signals.
u Ride single file.
u
pedestrians or small children who may
need more time to cross the road.
Always look for pedestrians and bicyclists,
especially when turning.
Remember to stay alert and slow down on
residential streets and through school
safety zones.
Big Blue hits Durham
Motorists who do not follow the above
rules not only increase the chances of an
accident, but they also run the risk of being
fined. For offences at crosswalks, traffic
signals and in school safety zones, fines
are $150 and three demerit points. In
designated community safety zones, the
fines are double ($300).
The Works Department places a high priority
on road safety and has active partnerships
with the Durham Regional Police Service,
the Region of Durham's Health Department,
the Canadian Institute for the Blind, and
the local municipalities to co-ordinate
engineering, education and enforcement
efforts to enhance everyone’s safety.
with paper would be too heavy to lift. The smaller blue box residents
currently own should be used for paper products.
Continued from page 1.
Over the years, recycling has become easier for residents. In the
early 2000s Durham had a four-stream system -- glass, containers,
papers and boxboard/cardboard, but as our processing equipment
and facilities improved, sorting the collected materials became easier.
As a result, Durham has been down to a two-stream system since
2007. This means the recyclable papers and containers are collected
in separate blue boxes. By providing residents with an additional blue
box, it will make participating in this two-stream program easier.
The additional blue boxes are being
provided in partnership with recyclable
paper and packaging producers who
contributed 50 per cent of the funding for
this initiative.
By using the new, big blue boxes and all the
waste diversion programs available,
residents can help Durham Region reach the
target waste diversion rate of 70 per cent,
so less of our resources are sent to landfill.
Graphic instructions on the sides of each box indicate that the new,
larger box will be for the collection of recyclable containers only. This
is simply a matter of practicality, since a container of this size filled
5
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Additional leaf and yard
waste collection for
Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge
Keep medications
out of the environment
Have you ever wondered just what you should do with old or expired
medications? Proper disposal in an environmentally friendly way is now
even easier thanks to recent changes for
the collection of unused prescription and
over-the-counter medication.
Residents in the townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge now have
additional curbside yard waste collection weeks, as part of the Region's
plan to provide a standardized service (24 collection weeks) across
Durham.
On July 1, the Ontario Pharmaceutical
Association, in co-operation with
Stewardship Ontario, announced the Take
It Back program. Unused medication can
now be safely disposed of at your local
pharmacy counter.
Fourteen new collection dates for leaf and yard waste, in addition to the
existing weeks, were added in 2010. Leaf and yard waste will still be
collected on your regularly scheduled collection day. The following
collections are scheduled for the remainder of this year:

Nov. 9 to 12
Nov. 23 to 26
Nov. 30 to Dec. 3
Although residents have been able to
dispose of this medications for free at the
local waste management facilities, or at
municipal hazardous waste events held in the region for years, not
everyone takes advantage of this method. Safe disposal is now even
easier and available at a pharmacy near you!
Remember: place your yard waste in kraft paper bags or clearly labelled
rigid open-top reusable containers. Securely tie brush in bundles (limit
of three per collection), up to one
metre (three feet) in length and
76 centimetres (30 inches) in
width, weighing no more than 20
kilograms (44 pounds). Brush and
tree trimmings must be eight
centimetres (three inches) or less
in diameter.
Bringing medications back to the pharmacist under the Take It Back
program makes it both convenient and safe. Residents are encouraged
to think before they throw and keep hazardous waste out of the
environment. Pharmaceuticals for both humans and pets,
including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs
and natural health products should never be disposed of in
the garbage or flushed down the toilet.
For more information on the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals please
visit www.makethedrop.ca. For more information on Durham Region's
other waste management programs, please visit
www.durhamregionwaste.ca, call 905-579-5264 (toll-free
1-800-667-5671) or email waste@durham.ca.
Please note, these additional collection weeks are not shown in your
current 2010 Waste Management Calendar because the new service
levels were not approved at the time the calendars were printed.
Look for your new Waste Management Calendar in the mail.
What to do with your unwanted electrical and
electronic equipment
Effective immediately, residents can take dedicated loads of used, broken or unwanted electrical and
electronic equipment for free to any Region of Durham Waste Management Facility for recycling.
This includes amplifiers, audio and video players, cameras, cell phones, computers and peripherals,
copiers, fax machines, printers, radios, receivers, scanners, speakers, telephones and answering
machines, tuners, turntable, televisions, and video projectors. Hours of operation for these facilities
are noted on the back of this newsletter.
6
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Recycling and composting are small actions you can
take to help the environment. Unfortunately, many
people still think recycling and composting are only
for the kitchen. By remembering to recycle and
compost items from around the house, the
amount of waste going to landfill can be greatly
reduced. Why not put a small container in the bathroom
for recyclables? And take lint from the laundry room
to your green bin. Every little bit counts.
Managing your waste,
room by room
Home Office
Bathroom
Recyclable containers
Water and pop bottles,
and pop cans.
Here are some examples of waste from each
room of your house.
Shampoo and conditioner
bottles, liquid soap bottles, aerosol
shaving cream and hair spray cans,
mouthwash bottles, empty medicine
bottles.
Recyclable papers
Computer paper, lined
Laundry room
paper, envelopes, soft cover
books, newspapers, flyers,
Recyclable papers
shredded paper (place in a
Soap boxes, hair dye boxes, cosmetic box clear bag or small amounts
Liquid detergent bottles,
bleach bottles, stain remover packaging, toothpaste boxes, tissue
can be placed in a cereal
bottles, and household cleaner boxes, magazines, newspapers and toilet box), telephone books and
paper rolls.
bottles.
tissue boxes.
Recyclable papers
Detergent and fabric softener
boxes, paper towel rolls and
tissue boxes.
Compostable
Tissues, paper towels, hair, nail clippings
and make-up pads.
Garbage
Dental floss, toothpaste tubes, make-up
Compostable
containers, feminine hygiene products,
Dryer lint, pet fur,
cotton swabs, bandages, baby wipes and
bedding from pet cages,
paper towels and tissues. diapers.
Garbage
Dryer sheets, hangers
and kitty litter.
Durham Region has set a goal
of reaching 70 per cent
diversion for residential waste.
With your help, we can
surpass this goal.
Household hazardous waste
Unused and expired medications should
be returned to your local pharmacy.
Garbage
Bubble wrap, pens and
pencils
E-waste
Cameras, cell phones,
computers, printers, fax
machines, typewriters,
televisions, copiers, radios
and scanners. Visit
www.dowhatyoucan.ca for
drop-off locations.
Bedroom
Empty medicine bottles
and water bottles.
Recyclable papers
Tissue boxes, shoe boxes,
soft cover books, medicine
packaging, computer
paper, gift wrap (no
foil) and packaging,
newspapers and
magazines.
Reuse
Donate old clothing
and toys to charity.
Kitchen
Garage
Backyard
Cans, drink boxes, margarine, yogurt and ice cream containers,
plastic and glass bottles and jars, and milk and juice cartons.
Empty windshield washer
bottles, household cleaner
bottles, non-hazardous empty
aerosol cans, and empty and
dry paint cans.
Garbage
Empty plastic
soil bags, pet
waste, cigarette
butts and ashes.
Recyclable papers
Cereal boxes, pizza boxes, frozen food boxes, mixed household
papers, flyers, junk mail, magazines, newspapers, telephone
books, catalogues, paper bags and paper towel rolls.
Compostable
Paper towels and sawdust.
Compostable
Food waste, coffee grinds and filters, tea bags, paper towels,
napkins, paper plates, muffin paper, pet food, paper egg cartons,
fast food drink trays, sugar bags, popcorn bags and plants/flowers.
Garbage
Plastic wrap, milk bags, cereal bags, chip bags (regular and
compostable), aluminum foil, take-out coffee cups, clear or
styrofoam egg cartons, meat trays, plastic food or produce
containers, wooden fruit crates, gum, twist ties, wine corks,
vacuum bags and disposable mop sheets.
7
Household hazardous waste
Antifreeze, aerosols with
fluids, batteries, brake fluid,
fertilizers, fluorescent tubes,
fuel, fungicides, oil filters and
waste oil, paint, paint thinners,
insecticides, herbicides,
polishes, pool chemicals,
poisons, propane cylinders,
solvents and stains.
Yard waste
Sticks and
twigs, leaves,
weeds,
pumpkins, corn
stalks, hedge
trimmings and
garden plants.
Grasscycle
Leave grass
clippings on
your lawn.
CONTACT US
Durham’s waste management facilities
Durham Region Works administration offices
The Region operates three provincially licensed, user-pay, waste disposal
facilities, and they are open throughout the year Tuesday through
Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. See the location maps below for the site
nearest you and call them for more information.
Region of Durham Headquarters, Works Department
605 Rossland Rd. E., P.O. Box 623
Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3
Monday to Friday - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
905-668-7711 or 1-800-372-1102 Fax: 905-668-2051
www.durham.ca works@durham.ca
The following materials are accepted for disposal, recycling, composting
or reuse:
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
appliances and furniture
electronics
car and household batteries
propane barbecue tanks
drywall and wood
household metal
tires (max. five tires
per day)
!
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!
!
!
!
!
waste oil and oil filters
household hazardous waste
white agricultural bale wrap
blue box recyclables
leaf, grass, brush and
yard waste
oversized cardboard boxes
garbage
Durham Region Waste Management Centre
For information on waste management, including purchases
of blue boxes, green bins and composters:
Durham Region Waste Management Centre
4600 Garrard Rd., Whitby L1R 3K8
Monday to Friday - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
905-579-5264 or 1-800-667-5671
www.durhamregionwaste.ca waste@durham.ca
Waste disposal fees are $120 per tonne, with a minimum charge of $5 per visit, payable
by cash, VISA, Mastercard or debit card. Dedicated loads of household hazardous waste
and/or white agricultural bale wrap, and/or tires, and/or waste electronic and electrical
equipment are exempt from fees if delivered separately from regular garbage.
Durham Region Works maintenance depots
Brock Sideroad 17
Township of Brock
705-437-2933
1640 Ritson Rd. N.
Oshawa
905-433-2050
Hwy. 48
Conlin Rd.
Simcoe St.
Hwy. 12
Brock
Sideroad 17
Brock Conc.
13
N
X
Taunton Rd.
Ritson Rd.
Lake Ridge Rd.
N
X
!
Sewer back-ups and
plugged sewer lines
! Fire hydrants
! Watermain breaks
! Ditch drainage, pot
! Water locates
holes, snow clearing on
! Water meters (installation
Regional roads
and servicing)
Ajax/Pickering Depot ----------------------------- 905-683-1471
For information on:
Rossland Rd.
Serving residents of the City of Pickering and the Town of Ajax
Oshawa/Whitby Depot --------------------------- 905-655-3344
Reg. Rd. 12
Serving residents of the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby
Orono Depot -------------------------------------- 905-983-5116
1220 Squires Beach Rd.
Pickering
905-426-4222
1623 Reach St.
Port Perry
905-985-7973
Serving residents of the Township of Brock and the northern
portion of the Township of Uxbridge
X
Clements Rd.
Westney Rd.
Brock Rd.
Hwy. 7A
Bayly St.
Squires Beach Rd.
N
Simcoe St.
Hwy. 7 & 12
Sunderland Depot -------------------------------- 705-357-3140
Hwy. 401
X
Reach St.
Serving residents of the Municipality of Clarington and the
eastern portion of the Township of Scugog
*
N
Scugog Depot ------------------------------------ 905-985-7170
Serving residents of the western and central portions of the
Township of Scugog and the southern portion of the Township of Uxbridge
Monday to Friday - 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Durham Region Works traffic operations
*
Note: This privately operated waste
disposal site contains a Regional
household hazardous waste facility.
To report damaged
or malfunctioning:
!
!
Traffic control signals
Traffic signs on Regional roads
!
!
Guardrails
Pavement markings
For more information about traffic studies or special event
permits for Regional roads, contact:
Region of Durham Traffic Operations Centre
Monday to Friday - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 905-666-8116 or 1-866-786-8116
After hours emergencies
(Regional roads, water and sewer)
905-576-9991 or 1-800-372-1104
8