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Greetings all, Call me slow, but I just found the www.zwat.org <http://www.zwat.org/> website (zero waste action team), which was started in the 1990's (!!) by "Bell Canada, Thunder Bay Telephone, Thunder Bay Hydro, Port Arthur General, St Joseph's, McKellar and Hogarth Westmount Hospitals and the Intercity Shopping Centre. Today, there are more than 30 representatives of the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional sector, community organizations, the City of Thunder Bay, City Council and the Ministry of the Environment. " Here is what they say is Zero Waste. What Is "Zero Waste? The goal of "Zero Waste" is to eliminate 100% of the waste presently being generated. It is a process that unites environmental, community and economic sustainability, promotes local employment and improves a community's health and quality of life. This is achieved through resource protection, conservation and recovery, materials efficiencies, minimizing pollution, recycling and the elimination of waste. Zero Waste moves responsibility for the waste stream to the product designers, manufacturers, advertisers and consumers. It focuses on renewable resources and paying up front for the environmental and social costs. These costs occur all along the waste stream, not just when products are disposed of in landfill. Emphasis is placed on the repair, resale and reuse of durable products designed for recyclability when they outlive their usefulness. There are several declared "Zero Waste" or "Sustainable Cities" in Canada, United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Here are a few Canadian examples: EarthCare Sudbury is an integrated, comprehensive local action plan that was developed by working groups representing all sectors of the community with the goal of environmental and economic sustainability. There are now over 90 community partners, and the Canadian Federation of Municipalities recognizes EarthCare Sudbury as a model for other communities. The October 2003 Local Action Plan is found under "Public Works" at the Greater City of Sudbury website. Edmonton, Alberta has achieved 65% diverson of its residential waste, more than any other city in Canada. It has established a state-of-the-art facility that focuses on recycling, composting and the limited use of landfill. Provincial requirements that result in the use of refillable containers, rather than hard to recycle plastics, have greatly increased waste diversion. Halifax, Nova Scotia has achieved 60% waste diversion largely due to a "green bin" program that collects compostable household materials and transfers them to an "age and cure" centre. Organic waste is banned from landfill. Guelph, Ontario uses an innovative two-stream, wet-dry recycling program begun in 1995. It has achieved 58% waste diversion, and has set its sights higher. In British Columbia, The Town of Smithers and the Regional District of Kootenay, Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo, British Columbia have adopted the concept of 'Zero Waste" as policy. Zero Waste makes economic sense. Businesses are discovering that it pays to design products for reycylability and durability that result in a savings of resources and less waste. However, when an industry achieves 50% waste reduction by switching from easily reusable and recyclable glass and paper to difficult to recycle plastics, the true benefits to the environment are minimal. There are a variety of "real" solutions to achieve Zero Waste and many businesses are diverting 80-90% and saving money in the process. Several businesses are recognized as "Zero Heros" such as the Beer Store (for using refillable containers), Mountain Gear Co-Op, Xerox, IBM and Toyota. To view more examples of "Zero Waste" initiatives in Canada including a mention of the Zero Waste Action Team see environmental award winner Michael Jessen's "List of Zero Waste Initiatives in Canada" at http://greenyes.grrn.org. To find out more about "Zero Waste Cities" go to www.green.org. Information about "green energy" and local air quality issues may be found on Pollution Probe and Ontario Clean Air Alliance websites and on Ontario Power Generation's website www.opg.com under "Green Power". Eric Lombardi Executive Director Eco-Cycle, Inc Boulder, CO 303-444-6634 www.ecocycle.org |
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