The Toronto Star
Tue 07 Apr 2009
Page: A11
Section: News
Byline: Moira Welsh and Robert Benzie Staff reporters
 
Modelled after a Massachusetts law that dramatically reduced the use and production of hazardous chemicals in the workplace, legislation to be announced in Ontario today will push industries to limit their toxins and find greener ways of doing business.

It is expected the "toxics reduction strategy" - the result of intense lobbying by environmental and public health groups - will require industries to audit their use of chemicals and show how they could be reduced, but allow implementation of those plans to be voluntary.

Sarah Miller, spokesperson for the Canadian Environmental Law Association, said the Massachusetts legislation began in 1989 with a target of reducing use of toxic chemicals - voluntarily - by 50 per cent. That goal was reached within 10 years. "In Massachusetts, many in the industry saw the wisdom, saw how it would reduce their hazardous waste, which is very expensive for them to get rid of, and would save them money in the long term," Miller said.

The province is sensitive to concerns that introducing a toxics reduction strategy during a recession will put further strain on struggling manufacturers, but a non-profit organization that for nearly a decade has helped companies reduce their toxic output said doing so can produce significant savings.

"There will be pushback," acknowledged Fred Granek, of the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement.

However, he said, "It is possible for small- to medium-sized manufacturers to improve their performance and save bags of money."

Granek's organization operates the Toronto Region Sustainability Program, which works with Ontario manufacturers to create detailed plans for reducing pollution and a business case explaining to company leaders why such steps make financial sense.

It is expected that, once the legislation is passed, the sustainability program will work with the province to help manufacturers.

© 2009 Torstar Corporation