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Drive for waste reduction begins
Lindsay Lafraugh
10/18/2008

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There are many ways to reduce the amount of waste each household produces, and EcoSuperior along with Zero Waste Action Team (ZWAT) are spending next week making sure Thunder Bay residents know what they are.

From Oct. 19 to 25, cities across Canada are celebrating Waste Reduction Week.

Locally, EcoSuperior, which promotes energy and water conservation, waste reduction, pollution prevention and urban green spaces, and ZWAT, which is made up of 40 members of the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors and community organizations, have joined forces to organize a number of events to celebrate and promote waste reduction.

A kickoff event is scheduled today at Intercity Shopping Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“A number of community groups and members will be at the waste reduction fair, and it will be a really good educational opportunity,” said Karen Copeland of EcoSuperior.

According to EcoSuperior and ZWAT, in Thunder Bay more than 100,000 tonnes of waste are sent to the landfill every year, creating almost 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently 27 per cent of residential solid waste is being diverted from the landfill thanks to recycling programs.

ZWAT member Patrick Fenlon said that percentage needs to grow, but it all comes down to funding.

“There is always the question of who is going to pay for the transportation and the collection . . . we live in an isolated area, so the logistical costs of putting together programs that can handle recycled products in a cost-effective fashion is a very difficult thing to do, it is very expensive,” he said.

He said government and communities are slowly starting to step up to the challenge of reducing waste.

During waste reduction week, local radio stations will be giving out prizes to people “caught” recycling and to others who answer waste reduction trivia.

Schools are also getting in on the waste reduction initiative.

Pope John Paul ll, Bishop Gallagher and Bishop E.Q. Jennings schools have handed out green reusable bags to each student to reduce the use of plastic bags. Students have been asked to encourage their families and friends to bring their own bag when shopping.

According to ZWAT, more than 55 million plastic shopping bags are taken home each year in Thunder Bay, a number the Ontario government hopes to reduce by 50 per cent by 2012.

Pope John Paul ll students will also be participating in a battery drive. The class who collects the most batteries to ensure safe disposal will win a pizza party.

The school is also moving to cornstarch-based containers and cutlery for their lunch programs.

“The students have very big hearts and they sincerely want to do their best when it comes to the Earth,” said teacher Mike Tracz.

A number of retailers will also be participating in waste reduction week, highlighting their own waste reduction initiatives and offering special promotions. A list of participating retailers is available at www.ecosuperior.org.

Copeland said it is important for people to take what they learn during waste reduction week and apply it to their everyday lives.

“We just hope that people will pick up new ideas and things that they can continue on with for the rest of the year,” she said.
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