In February 2012, the Regional Municipality of York opened the
Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre (CEC). Located in Richmond Hill on Elgin Mills between Bayview and Leslie, the Elgin Mills Centre lets York residents dispose of waste that is either too toxic or too cumbersome to be disposed of at the curb.
Now, a year after its launch, the Municipality of York has announced that the Elgin Mills CEC has collected 6,790 tonnes of material--28 per cent more than its projected target.
The Elgin Mills Center is the second CEC to open in York in the past four years: the first, the McClearly Court CEC, opened in the City of Vaughan in July 2009.
The construction of the community environmental centers is part of a larger York Region project to divert more waste from the region's landfills.
The Community Environmental Centres are so-called because they serve a double purpose. In addition to being sorting centers, each CEC has a strong connection to the wider community. Each contains an education center on environmental issues facing the region, as well as a Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity drop off where residents can bring reusable clothes and housewares to be redistributed to York Region charities.
The CECs take everything from building materials, to tires and large metal appliances.
Based on the success of the current CEC projects, York is planning on developing more Community Environmental Centres in the future, as well as equipping current centers to process hazardous household waste (one of the few materials they currently cannot take).
"Plans are in place to expand what is accepted at both our CECs to include drop-off facilities for household hazardous waste," says Town of Richmond Hill regional Councillor Vito Spatafora, Chair of the Region’s Environmental Services Committee. "By expanding the services offered at these facilities, the CECs will increase their convenience to York Region residents as a one-stop recycling depot."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: York Region, Councillor Vito Spatafora