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VICTORIA – The union representing workers at the Hartland Landfill & Recycling area have launched an information and action campaign urging the public to contact their local politicians to stop the proposed Monday closure of the landfill. Residents are asked to act fast as a decision will be made by May 23, 2007.

Monday is a very busy day at the landfill,” says Mauricio Navarrete, president of CUPE 1978. “It’s the day when most residents dispose of any excess garbage accumulated over the weekends through home cleaning or renovating projects.”

Currently, Monday line-ups to deposit waste at the landfill spiral around the site and onto surrounding streets. The closure means that the general public, including small commercial haulers will have to find alternative methods to dispose of refuse and recyclable materials, including household hazardous waste products.

The landfill is a valuable service that the public is paying for,” says Navarrete. “It makes no management sense to reduce this service, reduce jobs and increase line-ups, which are already too long.”

CUPE 1978 will be placing newspaper ads in local papers with the phone numbers and names of Capital Regional District politicians responsible for this decision. They will be placed in Monday Magazine, Saanich News, Penninsula News, Oak Bay News, The Victoria News, GoldStream Gazette and the Victoria Times Colonist. They are also mailing their message to all residential homes in the region.

The Hartland Landfill & Recycling Area serves over 100,000 customers a year from the Capital Regional District. It is a place where customers can dispose of garbage, drop off yard & garden waste, recyclable material, household hazardous waste and controlled waste. It is staffed by 17 landfill workers that are members of CUPE 1978. The equivalent of almost 2 full-time jobs will be lost by the closure of the plant on Mondays.

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Contact: Mauricio Navarrete, President CUPE 1978: 250.472.1978, c:250.883.8406; Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications: 604.291.1940, ext. 240