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Have a landfill/incinerator in your community? Part 2
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
The players: The company and the politicianI would like to suggest that readers refer to the Ecowrappin Archives and review Part 1 of this topic.
Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. operates a multinational company from its corporate offices in Braintree, MA, USA. Clean Harbors Inc. purchased the SafetyKleen landfill/incinerator hazardous waste facility in 2002, which operates in St. Clair Township east of Corunna in Lambton County, Ontario. An easy way to learn about any company is to check out their web site. Web sites are very revealing in not only what they say but mostly what they don't say. Here's what Clean Harbors says at HYPERLINK "http://www.cleanharbors.com"; www.cleanharbors.com
Who are they?
Clean Harbors' Vision "To be the premier provider of environmental services and solutions." Clean Harbors' Mission "To help customers manage their environmental responsibilities for greatest security and efficiency."
Who do they serve?
"a majority of the Fortune 500 companies, thousands of smaller private entities and numerous governmental agencies. Within its international footprint, Clean Harbors has service and sales offices located in 40 states, six Canadian provinces, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, and operates over 50 waste management facilities strategically located throughout North America."
What do they emphasize?
Customer and Investor relations. To make money.
What do they NOT say?
There is no mention (and I tried very hard to search for this) of community relations, other than job opportunities. There is no mention of a corporate Environmental Policy, long term impact to the environment, about dialogue with any neighbours globally or locally or stewardship of the land. In fact, except for the addresses in Canada, there is no mention of their Canadian interests. It's as if in Corporate, Braintree, Maine, Canada doesn't exist. It's obvious that if you work for Clean Harbors Inc., there will not be any corporate incentives or bonuses to develop a good community relations business plan in Sarnia Lambton.
In contrast, locally in Brigden/Sarnia, the officials at Clean Harbors promptly responded to my questions when I contacted them. As well, when I spoke with a community member, they admitted that Clean Harbors does communicate with them as the need arises. In addition, they are very cordial in hosting educational tours for high school students in support of the science curriculum. On Monday, March 24, 2003, they had an open house in Brigden. Since I am currently covering the story and had been in contact with them just recently, I would have wished to attend the open house to learn more but didnít know anything about it until I saw the local news after the fact. Even checked the local Wallaceburg papers but found no notice of this open house.
In other words, if you ask the right question, you get an answer, but not much more. A transparent and proactive community relations strategy does not seem to exist or be a priority. The corporate image portrayed on their web site very blatantly confirms this policy.
So why is a community relations strategy important?
When I spoke with Clean Harbors, their largest complaint was that they donít get a fair opportunity to voice their side of the story in the media, especially in Sarnia. ie. They are often portrayed as the bad guys.
My advice to Clean Harbors:
If you don't proactively project your information out to the public, you can't complain when it doesnít go in your favour. If you care about the environment and communities, then prove it by finding a way to tell your story. If you have an Environmental Policy, then tell the public about it. And if the company considers itself ëstewardsí of the land it is borrowing, then prove it. Education, transparency and tracking of past performance constitute the building blocks of trust.
The chemical companies have a great logo "Don't trust us. Track us." Take heed Clean Harbors Inc. This should be your logo.
Caroline DiCocco, an MPP from Sarnia-Lambton has been tracking Safety-Kleen, Clean Harbors, for several years. Her logo for Clean Harbors Inc. could be summed up as: Iíve been tracking you and I donít trust you.
So what information does she project on her web site HYPERLINK "http://www.CarolineDiCocco.com?"; www.CarolineDiCocco.com?
Aside from her duties as MPP, she definitely has ëa thingí for Safety-Kleen and now Clean Harbors. I asked her the following question:
You have been criticized for having a narrow focus and targeting one company ie. Safety Kleen, Clean Harbors rather than all environmental/landfill issues in Sarnia Lambton. Please respond to this criticism. Is this a fair criticism? Why has this company been a focus in the past?
DiCocco's answer:
"Clean Harbours is the largest facility in Canada and the only provincial designated site. As an elected member when I found the evidence that the public interest was not being protected in this case it is my job to raise awareness and change the rules. I have come to these conclusions by gathering evidence since my election in 1999. .....For example this site was expanded in 1997 with scoped rules, fast tracked Environmental Assessment. It is not the mandate of this company to protect the public interest, it is in their interest to make a lot of money by disposing of hazardous material. My main focus is with the government, the secondary focus is a company that is for all intent and purposes self-policed and has a terrible track record in the U.S. ......Considering their claim that there will never by any problems it is hard to have a level of trust in how they do business."
Her goal is to
1. "raise the regulatory standards for disposal of hazardous waste (incineration and landfill)"
2. "put a closure date so that this site does not continue to expand. Move towards on site treatment and disposal, instead of mega-landfills, reduction and elimination toxic waste"
Her frustration has been with the provincial government which has failed "to protect the public interest, what I have experienced is that the company's interest are a priority in regard to this matter".
She has also been criticized for "playing politics" and using the current election fever to promote her political career. That may very well be so. However, considering that she is part of the official opposition and her party's job is to poke holes in the Conservative record of performance, one cannot expect her to play "nicey-nicey" with the government. Just ask any environmentalist, aboriginal group, even the government's own appointed Environmental Commissioner, Gord Miller, and they will tell you that this government has a dismal record of environmental performance. It is ironic that the government's lack of performance and Clean Harbors' lack of environmental reporting via a transparent community relations forum has delivered the opposition party a silver platter election platform.
My advice to Ms. DiCocco:
It is much easier to be part of the opposition than the ruling party. Be sure that if/when your party governs at Queens Park, it will have the guts to carry through and correct the very same problems that you now so vehemently criticise.
The next article in 3 weeks (part 3) will examine the other 2 players: the community members and the provincial government. Please tune in.
On a personal note, I would like to let the reader know that I do not belong to any political party. I have only indirectly corresponded with the MPP from Sarnia Lambton through her office. I am neither employed with nor have ever received fees from political parties, chemical corporations or environmental groups.
Kris Lee is a high school science teacher in Wallaceburg, Ont. She is working hard to bridge the gap between industry and community, with a major goal of reducing harmful effects to the environment. For over 10 years Kris has been an active member of several national industry and government advisory panels.
