| December 20, 2006
Town of Richmond Hill Achieves Another
First
Richmond Hill - The Town of Richmond Hill
has received an ISO 14001 certification becoming the first
municipality in Ontario to have its entire Engineering &
Public Works Department registered to the International Organization
for Standardization ISO 14001 standard.
“This is a great accomplishment and one that will ultimately
benefit the Town as a whole,” said Mayor Dave Barrow.
“The certification demonstrates the Town’s commitment
to protecting the natural environment and the community.”
ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard of excellence
for environmental management systems. Organizations which
achieve registration status know how to improve environmental
performance, minimize harmful effects on the environment,
comply with environmental regulations and legislation and
continuously improve upon their practices. In short, the ISO
14001 standard provides the Town with the framework for how
to manage the environmental aspects of its business activities
more efficiently.
“The certification is the result of more than two years
of hard work and dedication by staff,” said Italo Brutto,
Commissioner of Engineering & Public Works. “This
is a significant achievement as many other municipalities,
including York Region, Peel Region, Durham Region, City of
Hamilton and City of Ottawa have chosen to certify specific
facilities or systems to the ISO 14001 standard, but we are
the first in Ontario to ensure the programs of our entire
Department meet the ISO 14001 standard.”
“Through its Clean Air Initiatives, Salt Management
and Stormwater Management programs the Town has always been
a leader in its commitment and concern for the environment,”
said Dan Olding, Manager of Environmental Programs. “The
ISO 14001 standards will only make us better.”
The registration process, which began in 2004, involved many
steps, including the development of an Environmental Management
System (EMS) to address legislative compliance, improve pollution
prevention and promote environmental awareness, as well as
the creation of an Environmental Policy to demonstrate commitment
to the EMS. In addition, the entire Department went through
both an environmental and legal review, as well as established
and documented policies, procedures and programs to manage
significant issues. All documentation was then audited by
a third party registrar to confirm it met the ISO 14001 standard.
There are numerous benefits to implementing an ISO 14001
Environmental Management System. The certification demonstrates
the Town’s due diligence in complying with environmental
legislation reducing the risk of penalties and possible litigation.
In addition, newly implemented policies, procedures and methods
for documentation will ultimately make the Town a safer and
cleaner place to live and work. Other benefits include increased
health for citizens and the natural environment and economic
development as environmentally sustainable businesses, which
tend to be stable, community-oriented businesses, may be attracted
to Richmond Hill.
ISO is the world's largest developer of standards and, although
their principal activity is the development of technical standards,
ISO standards also have important environmental, economic
and social benefits. The framework of the ISO 14001 standard
calls for annual independent audits and for re-certification
every three years.
“I’m proud of what the Engineering & Public
Works Department has achieved,” said Joan Anderton,
Chief Administrative Officer. “The Town joins companies
and organizations recognized around the world for demonstrating
environmental and social responsibility, protecting the environment
and operating in an environmentally sustainable manner.”
Plans are currently underway for a more formal unveiling
and promotion of the ISO certification. With a formal presentation
planned for Council in the New Year, there will be more information
to come in the days and months ahead.
Contact: Dan Olding, Manager of Environmental Programs, (905)
771-5505
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