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Council maintains plastic ban;
Niagara Falls Review (ON)
Tue 26 May 2009
Page: A1
Section: News
Byline: COREY LAROCQUE , REVIEW STAFF WRITER;

Turning Niagara Falls into an environment leader started nearly a year ago when Frank Fohr, learned London had eliminated the sale of of plastic bottles at city-owned facilities.

Fohr, a member of the park in the city committee, sent an email to other members asking if they thought it would fly in Niagara Falls.

In February, Fohr said he was amazed when councillors went further than that, scrapping the sales of all drinks in plastic bottles.

But Monday, Fohr wasn't amazed when politicians stood their ground despite pressure from Canada's beverage industry to back down.

"They studied the issue a little further. I don't think council could have made any other decision than they did," Fohr said.

Niagara Falls council voted unanimously -for the second time this year -to eliminate the sale of all beverages in plastic bottles at city-owned facilities.

In the past year, a lot of municipalities have phased out the sale bottled water.

But Niagara Falls is believed to be the first city to eliminate the sale of all plastic bottles. It means people can bring drinks from home, just don't expect to buy a plastic bottle at any arena or park.

"We really did something right, back in February. I think this is just one of the best things I've seen this council do," said Coun. Janice Wing, the co-chairwoman of the park in the city committee.

Eliminating plastic was to take effect this month, but implementation was moved to January 2010. Staff wanted time to come up with ways to help sports groups like Greater Niagara Baseball Association offer alternatives to bottles, said parks director Denyse Morrissey.

The operators of the Centre Court Cafe in the city-owned MacBain Community Centre was exempted from the new policy until the end of their contract in 2015.

After the February vote, Refreshments Canada said even if the city held firm on bottled water, they shouldn't stop selling other drinks that come in plastic.

"We asked for a fact-based decision," said Justin Sherwood, president of the organization that represents producers of soft drinks, sports drinks and bottled water.

He told council plastic packaging isn't as harmful to the environment as other packaging because it takes more energy and material to produce plastic and glass.

Some sports drinks, like Gatorade, only come in plastic packaging, he said.

Sherwood said there isn't anywhere for his association to fight the political decision further.

"These are city properties. They're completely within their prerogative to determine how they want to operate them."

After a meeting with Refreshments Canada, councillors Bart Maves and Vince Kerrio said in March they would try to have council reconsider the February decision.

But they both voted Monday to eliminate plastics.

"I was concerned about some of the (sports) associations. We did make a very fast decision on it," said Maves.

After hearing from Refreshments Canada, Maves wanted council to take a second look at the information.

"On that one, I think we should have given it a little more thought. And I think we have," Maves said after Monday's meeting.

Other than the beverage association, no one spoke in opposition to eliminating plastic bottles, Kerrio said.

Niagara Falls Soccer Club president Tim Chamberlain gave the city a $2,250 donation, half the cost of a water refill station at Mitchelson Park so players can fill reusable water bottles.

Don Johnson, a baseball supporter and park in the city member, chipped in $275 to install a gooseneck fountain at the park near Summer Street named after him.

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