News Release: Gomberg to Inaugurate Alternative “Garbage Train”

Toronto – (October 4, 2000) 

On Wed. Oct. 4, 2000, at 10:30 a.m. in front of Toronto City Hall, Tooker Gomberg will announce his plans for an alternative “garbage train”. On display will be a trailer- full of organic “garbage”, including slightly rotted potatoes, and tomatoes past their prime, recently rescued in Kensington Market from certain compaction and disposal in the Keele Valley dump.

Later in the day, at 4:47 p.m. from Track 12 at Union Station, Gomberg and supporters will board the GO train to Newmarket with this “garbage” (actually wasted resources). They will bring it to the Canada Composting Inc. facility in Newmarket.

“The majority of the “garbage” that is going to landfill is stuff like this: slimy eggplants and mushy tomatoes. Mr. Lastman and company think the only option is to build special trains and ship it 600 km. north to the Adams Mine where it will pollute the water. They’re prepared to go to war with the north over eggplants. Why are they ignoring the most attractive, magical, and economical alternative?”

“The alchemists sought to turn lead into gold. Why not transform “garbage” into methane gas, also known as natural gas? We could then use that gas for generating electricity, and heating and cooling buildings. If we had our “garbage” digested instead of dumped we would, in one fell swoop, practically reach our Kyoto commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6% over 1990 levels. Our “garbage problem” would disappear. That would be magic.”

“Choosing the Adams Mine option instead would be tragic.” Council is scheduled to make its decision on Thursday.

A secret report has recently been prepared for Enwave (formerly the Toronto District Heating Corporation) that shows how all of Toronto’s organic “garbage” could be digested in the city at a price comparable to the Adams Mine option. Incredibly, the report has not been made available to Councillors for their consideration.

Gomberg has a long history of garbage innovation. In the late 1970’s he was one of Canada’s recycling pioneers, instigating curbside recycling in Montreal. In 1993 as Edmonton City Councillor he succeeded in moving Council and the administration to switch tracks from building a new landfill to investing in composting. Edmonton now attracts worldwide attention for its innovation with “garbage”.