About CSE

Citizens for a Safe Environment (CSE) was founded in 1983 as a coalition of individuals and ratepayer groups concerned about the City of Toronto's proposed garbage burning incinerator to be located in the city's east end.

In 1986 another incinerator was proposed for South Riverdale by a private company, T.S.I. Trintek. CSE alerted the community to the plan and received a mandate to oppose the company at City Hall. CSE persuaded the Provincial Government to have the proposal designated under the Environmental Assessment Act. We also organized a petition campaign to oppose the two incinerator proposals and accumulated over 8,000 signatures. In 1989, Toronto City Council voted down their own proposal, after CSE had lobbied them for five years.

In the meantime, the Commissioners Street incinerator had been spewing out deadly pollution over the South Riverdale area for 35 years, and it was becoming clear that it was a health hazard. CSE vigorously campaigned to have it closed and was finally successful in July 1988. Shortly afterwards CSE found out about a proposal to build a giant heat generating plant, again in the South Riverdale area, and persuaded the City of Toronto to reject the idea immediately.

Public Education Programs

• Speakers: CSE hosts community information meetings where guest speakers discuss the complicated issue of waste management in the 21st century.
• Green Tea Parties: CSE arranges informal workshops on ecologically sound consumer habits offered in homes, offices, schools and community centres.
• School Programs: CSE presents
elementary-level programs dealing with waste management issues, including "The Great Garbagini" a magic show about the hazards of solid waste disposal.

Current Concerns

CSE members regularly attend City Works and Council committee meetings that pertain to waste management, to oppose mixed garbage incineration and landfill and to promote:

reduction, reuse, recycling and composting

(c) 2002-2004 Citizens for a Safe Environment. Site last updated July, 2004.