Reduce Noise From Regional Recycling Plant Operated By Millar Waste Ltd, 4590 Garrard Road, Whitby!

Situation

There is currently a recycling plant operated for the Region of Durham by Miller Waste Ltd at 4590 Garrard Road in Whitby. The community known as The Orchard sits to the southwest of this plant with the closest homes just 350 meters away from the plant.

The Issue

While the community supports the mission of the plant to recycle waste from the region, the noise coming from the plant is loud, persistent and disruptive to many members of The Orchard community. This is particularly disruptive during the summer months when residents are trying to enjoy their back yards. However it can also be heard through tightly shut windows and doors. The primary noise disruptors are the reverse and load lifting beepers on the trucks and the frequent horn blowing by the trucks.

Observations have demonstrated that the trucks safety beepers activate whenever trucks are placed in reverse or their bins are raised. They are often raised for minutes at a time as the drivers reverse, dump and then inspect their bins before lowering them. There can be literally hundreds of such instances every day sometimes including weekends. On top of this, the loaders also have loud beepers that activate when they are working on the dumped loads. Finally, different truck operators honk the load truck horns when they want to get the attention of other operators in the yard. This all leads to constant loud ambient industrial noise for the neighbours of The Orchard. It is particularly annoying to the households in the northeast of this community, closest to the plant.

The Petition Ask

We, the members of The Orchard community ask that a noise analysis study be completed and a noise reduction plan be implemented that eliminates or greatly reduces the volume and frequency of the reverse beeping and horn noises coming from the recycling plant.

Opportunities to potentially reduce/eliminate this noise includes:

• Safety strobe lights used in lieu of beepers for reversing or lifting loads.
• No horn blowing in the yard.
• Alternate volume or frequency tone for beepers that is less disruptive.
• Use a flag person instead of beepers for backing trucks.
• Use vehicle radar systems or radio frequency detection systems to protect workers from trucks backing up.

Thank-you,

Resident of The Orchard, Whitby

(including residents of Coach Cr, Glengowan St, Donwoods Cr and Heathfield St)