Ever wonder if that dry cleaner down the street is disposing of its chemicals properly? Or if that smell is coming from the factory a couple of blocks away?
If so, a Toronto environmental group wants to hear about it.
The Toronto Environmental Alliance is asking residents from Scarborough to Etobicoke and North York to the waterfront for reports of potential instances of toxic pollution in their neighbourhoods.
According to Lina Cino, the Toronto Environmental Alliance's toxic campaign co-ordinator, the plan is to create an interactive map of the city, featuring reports of environmental worries from people in neighbourhoods.
When it's ready, the group is hoping that the map will serve as a reminder to the city government that communities need the ability to know exactly what's going into the groundwater and the air they breathe.
"The City of Toronto has promised since the year 2000 that they would have a community right-to-know bylaw," said Cino.
"It's been seven years and we haven't seen it. Well, the community has concerns, and we want to show you there are concerns. If this is a very successful project and we can build this map, then why can't Toronto build it?"
The right-to-know bylaw would allow citizens to access information about toxic and other emissions from any business in the city.
The group is asking residents with a toxic concern to take photographs of questionable retail and/or industrial facilities, and e-mail the picture - along with the location, and any information about the location. TEA is also looking for "safe solutions" - which would highlight environmentally friendly facilities in neighourhoods.
Send stories and pictures to lina@torontoevironment.org by June 30, 2007.
-David Nickle