The Environmental Commissioner’s Recognition Award 2011
Each year, the ECO invites ministries to submit programs and projects for special recognition. The ECO’s Recognition Award acknowledges those ministries that best meet the goals of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 (EBR) or use the best internal EBR practices. This past year, five ministries responded to our call for nominations, submitting a total of 15 projects for consideration. An arm’s-length panel reviewed the submissions.
This year’s ECO Recognition Award is being presented to staff of the Ministry of Transportation for the ministry’s use of a bioretention system and crumb rubber modified asphalt at its Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW highway) carpool lot at Ontario Street in Beamsville. The ECO applauds this project for its benefits on three environmental fronts: managing stormwater; diverting waste; and promoting carpooling. Bioretention is a low-impact development technique that aims to mimic the natural hydrologic cycle; it infiltrates, filters, evaporates and detains runoff, while treating pollution at its source. Bioretention also enhances aesthetics, acts as habitat for birds and other wildlife, improves air quality and reduces the urban heat island effect. The ministry has partnered with the University of Guelph to monitor, analyze and report on data from the bioretention cells for the next two years. Additionally, half of the surface layer of the site contains rubber modified asphalt; this is equivalent to about 624 tires that would otherwise have been scrapped. This project serves to provide valuable lessons that can be used by municipalities, other agencies and the public sector.
Recipients of the ECO’s Recognition Award to Date
2000: Septic System Program (MMAH)
2001: Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Project for Highway 69 Reconstruction (MTO)
2002: Oak Ridges Moraine Strategy (MMAH)
2003: Ontario’s Living Legacy (MNR)
2004: Environmental Monitoring (MOE)
2005: Conservation of Alfred Bog (MNR, MOE, MMAH)
2006: Southern Ontario Land Resource Information System (MNR)
2007: No submissions found to be acceptable
2008: Zero Waste Events at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTC)
2009: Project Green (MOE)
2010: Green Power for the Summer Beaver Airport (MTO)
2011: Bioretention Cells and Rubber Modified Asphalt at the QEW Ontario Street Carpool Lot, Beamsville (MTO)
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