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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Dual-flush rebate: Discarded toilets present challenge

By: Bruce Owen

Posted: 04/24/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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Shawn Ansley of Home Hardware displays dual-flush toilet. (TIM SMITH / BRANDON SUN ARCHIVES)

The good news: 10,500 dual-flush toilets were sold in one day under the province's $50 rebate incentive.

The bad news: No one anticipated 10,500 older-style toilets would be replaced.

The result is many old toilets are being discarded, dumped in the city's autobins or other waste containers, to end up in the Brady Road landfill.

"It's a question of what should have been done when they announced this program in the first place," Tory MLA and water stewardship critic Heather Stefanson said. "They have to put a plan in place when they make these announcements to deal with the consequences.

"The landfill is the last place we want them to go."

Days after the Feb. 14 toilet rebate sale, dozens of old toilets were donated to the Habitat for Humanity's ReStore even through the province asked that the used toilets not be re-installed as that would defeat the purpose in conserving water. The province offered the rebate as a way for homeowners to replace water-guzzling 13-litre toilets.

Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick got involved, saying the province would pick up any excess toilets dropped off at the ReStore. It also set up an area at the Brady Road landfill in south Winnipeg where old toilets could be dropped off.

Melnick said during question period a local company was taking the old porcelain toilets to grind them down to use in flooring.

But Antex Western spokesman Sal Maida said Thursday at this point in time his concrete flooring business was not ready to accept the toilets.

"We are only at the research and development stage," Maida said.

Maida said only when the company works out some "wrinkles" it will be able to recycle toilets collected at Brady Road.

Coun. Jeff Browaty said the province should have asked the city to help collect the old toilets rather than see the confusion that exists now.

Browaty (North Kildonan) said city officials tell him it's possible the old toilets could have been dropped off at city recycling depots instead of asking residents to drive to Brady Road.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

Flushing out the facts

In the Winnipeg area, discarded toilets should be (and are being) directed to Brady Road landfill where the city is setting them aside in a designated area for pick up by a recycler.

Toilets were sold in locations across the province. Circumstances concerning disposal will likely differ from community to community. The province recommends people investigate the options available to them and make sensible choices.

The province also says toilets ending up in landfill constitute inert material. It isn't the preferred option, but it does not present any environmental risk.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 24, 2009 A12

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