BEACONSFIELD ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Headed by councillor Wade Staddon, this committee is formed to develop and propose strategies which address Beaonsfield's vision of becoming a sustainable community through improved environmental responsibility.

The citizen members of the BEAC have a wide range of expertise and backgrounds to meet the demands of this important mandate. They are: Dietrich Bodecker, Lucie Veilleux, Yvonne Hiemstra, Kate Coulter, Kristine Doucet, David Kalant, Marie-Caroline Bourg and Eva Nafekh. Staff contributing to the committee include Claude Lavigueur - Public Works Director, Désiré Murumbi and Michael Dooling - Culture and Leisure Director.

After much discussion the BEAC has decided to focus its energies in the first part of its mandate on the following: Creating a local action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; Reducing garbage (certain provincial restrictions are forthcoming which our municipality will have to abide by) while increasing recycling and reusing; Exploring alternative energy sources for our municipality to reduce costs and GHG emissions; Develop an education campaign to support these goals, in our schools, commerce and homes; and finally establish itself as a credible advisory body to the council on issues and decisions which have an environmental impact on our community.

Our most immediate task was to evaluate the leaf disposal system in Beaconsfield. In the past, we have had a variety of systems including curb side pick up for composting elsewhere, numerous leaf drop off points or simply pick up for the garbage dump. After studying the problem, and evaluating the costs to our budget and the environment, the BEAC has recommended to council that a leaf drop off point be maintained at Public Works and that all citizens be encouraged to maintain their leaves on their properties as much as possible (see article "What to do with your leaves in the Fall' [PDF] ) .