Winter 2010
Waste Reduction Newsletter
Holiday Edition
Newsletter Now Available On-Line
is now available online at prrrdy.com. Hard copies have been mailed only to the rural communities. If you would like a hard copy of this newsletter, they are available at the Waste Reduction office.
As festive as Christmas paper can be, it is not good for the environment. Even though it is paper, and some of it does have a recycle symbol, gift wrap is some of the lowest quality paper you can buy. Because tape and bows are not removed, the paper bales become contaminated and the value of the paper collected decreases. The extra packaging and paper that ends up in the landfill during the holiday season actually increases the carbon monoxide that the landfill produces. None of this needs to put a damper on your holiday spirit. There are many great alternatives to your typical Christmas gift wrap. The ideas can be as simple or as creative as your imagination can reach. The Japanese have been using reusable wrapping (Furoshiki squares) for so long it is considered an ancient art. Another option to consider are simple drawstring cloth bags. If you have a large gift and you don’t know what to do, try a pillow case. A large, knit body pillow case would take care of some very large and odd shaped gifts. Just tie the top with a festive chord. Challenge your creativity. These ideas and many others, would add to the beauty of your tree and give the recipients the joy of being able to use the wrapping next year.
If you have received this newsletter in your mail and you would prefer to access this information on-line, consider contacting the Waste Reduction office and requesting a “No Junkmail” sticker for your mailbox. It will drastically reduce paper waste. To get your sticker or newsletter, call 1-888-689-6328. For more reducing ideas, go to pRRRdy.com.
Volume 14, Issue 3
Avoiding a Greenwashed Christmas Products making claims that they are good for the environment with no factual basis is referred to as “greenwashing”. With Christmas on its way, people are trying to make a difference by purchasing truly “green” products. Start by making sure the gift you are giving is really wanted or needed. The simplest way to do this is to just ask! Once you know, you can translate it into a greener gift of choice. While shopping, read the labels, look at the product, and think about TerraChoice’s 6 Sins of Greenwashing: 1. Hidden Trade Off - emphasizes one environmental trait while not considering the impact of the entire product. 2. No Proof - Offers no evidence to support claims. 3. Vagueness - Uses unclear and unexplained marketing claims, such as “eco-friendly” without explaining HOW. 4. Irrelevance - Making claims that are truthful but are unimportant and unhelpful (example: claiming to be CFC free; this is true but misleading because CFC’s have been illegal since the 1980’s). 5. Fibbing - Emphasizes claims that are simply false. 6.
Lesser of Two Evils - Emphasizes claims that may be true but mainly distract the consumer from greater environmental impacts (ie: organic tobacco).
Remember the greatest gift you can give is a healthy planet for us all to share!
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pRRRdy says… Waste Reduction and Recycling
RECYCLING AROUND THE PEACE Regional Recycling Program
Recycling Locations
This chart lists material collected through the regional recycling program. Material
Newspaper
Newspapers Flyers
Paper
Calendars Phone books
All Inserts
Office Paper Envelopes
Plastic containers, bags and milk cartons Yogurt tubs, ice cream pails Detergent bottles, milk jugs/cartons Plastic bags, shrink wrap etc.
Tin cans and aluminum foil Soup cans Pet food cans Pie plates
Cardboard and Boxboard
Corrugated boxes ( wavy in middle ) Cereal boxes Cracker boxes Paper rolls
How to Prepare
BINS
• Separate bin at depots
Bessborough Landfill Charlie Lake-
Mile 54 Shell. • Dry • Clean • Shredded Paper in bags • • • • • •
Numbers 1—7 NO STYROFOAM Rinsed clean Lids off Squashed Stuff bags and plastic film into another bag
• Clean • Labels removed ( recycle with paper )
• Flatten cans
It takes very little time to sort recyclables properly and bins are labelled clearly as to what is acceptable. For help on how to sort your recyclables properly, please call your local depot or NEAT at 888-689-6328.
Adjacent to Fire Hall
Pouce Coupe-
Elementary School Rose PrairieCurling rink
Taylor
Willow/McMahon Dr.
Tumbler Ridge
Shop Easy Foods Chetwynd 250-788-1111 4824 - 54 St Dawson Creek 250-782-2020 925-100 Ave Fort St. John 250-785-0300 10107-94 Ave Tumbler Ridge Trans. Site
Glass is back. You can start recycling your glass food containers again.
Outdoor recycling bins are very convenient for those who live a hectic schedule and cannot get to the depot during business hours.
Mile 62.5 Transfer Station Moberly Lake-
DEPOTS
• Clean • Dry • Flattened
For many recycling depots, it’s difficult when patrons don’t sort their recycling properly. The Lion’s Recycling in Chetwynd has had to close their off-hours outdoor bins due to people throwing everything together in one bin or simply dumping their garbage. Everything from animal carcasses to household junk has been found amongst the cardboard and plastic! Staff spend countless hours sorting through the mess.
Dawson CreekNo Frills ( Extra Foods ) , Wal-Mart, Transfer Station Hudson ’ s HopeShop Easy Foods
Did You Know? You can now recycle even more! • • • • • • • • • • •
Answering Machines CD/DVD players Home Theatre Systems MP3 Players Stereos Telephones VCR/VHS Players Video Cameras Mercury Thermostats (FSJ) CFL Bulbs Commercial Paint (Coming Soon)
For locations in your area, look on prrrdy.com. under Recycle.
pRRRdy says… Waste Reduction and Recycling Newsletter
Page 3
Does Over-Packaging Drive You Bananas? Approximately one third of residential garbage is packaging! Reduce the amount of packaging you throw out by buying food grown locally or in bulk and by cooking your own meals instead of purchasing pre-made.
• • • • • • • • •
Recycled Turkey Stock
1 turkey carcass 3 sprigs parsley 2 medium onions, sliced (leave skin on, it makes a nicer stock) 3 ribs celery, cut up 2 medium carrots, cut up 1 bay leaf 2 teaspoons dried leaf thyme 2 teaspoons salt Dash of pepper & salt Break up carcass and place in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add remaining ingredients, cover with cold water. Bring to a simmer at medium heat. Reduce to low and simmer for 3-5 hours. Cool slightly then strain into large bowl. Refrigerate until fat has settled on top. Spoon fat off the top and discard. Portion desired amount of stock into reusable containers and freeze.
The Forgotten “R” We have all heard of the Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. If you are reading this newsletter you are probably well aware of Recycling. Reusing may also be familiar to you; children get hand-me-downs from older siblings, etc. We are members of a throw away culture and Reducing is not first nature to us. Reducing is the most important “ R ” because it uses the least amount of resources. Raw materials, transportation fuel, energy, and landfill space are all conserved. Unfortunately, reducing can seem difficult because it is often cheaper and easier to buy an entirely new item than to repair it. If the old item cannot be recycled, it goes straight to the landfill! One way to reduce the amount of items that end up in the landfill is to think twice about purchases. Often this saves money too! Ask yourself: “ D o I really need this? ” If so, ask “ C an I find it second hand? ” Another easy way to Reduce is to buy food with less packaging. Bulk food costs less and is usually healthier. Purchasing individually packaged foods like small yogurts, crackers, and fruit leathers can save a lot of time. If lunches are your Achilles heel in the morning, try to reduce packaging associated with breakfast and dinner instead. Foods like oatmeal and rice can be purchased in large quantities, last a long time, and are good for you!
Does this packaging make my landfill look big?
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pRRRdy says… Waste Reduction and Recycling Newsletter
Contact Us Every issue of pRRRdy says… includes some easy-to-do tips to help you help the environment...and maybe save some money too!
Now THAT’s A Resolution I Can Keep! Commit to one of these New Year’s Resolutions and you are on your way to a leaner, greener 2011! ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
This spring/summer, commit to walking or biking to work once a week to help reduce pollution. Your body will thank you for the exercise too! Find a second hand toaster oven and use it to heat up smaller dinners. It uses less energy than a conventional oven. No plastic bags! Find some reusable produce bags. After unpacking groceries at home, put the bags back in your vehicle so as not to forget them next time! Buy a reusable water bottle and fill it before road trips to avoid purchasing bottled water. Reduce demand on your local water supply. Use rain water for outdoor plants and lawns. Rain barrels are available at most hardware stores. Grow your own herb garden using reusable pots. Get an online newspaper subscription to avoid paper waste. Hang clothes to dry. Charge your cell phone when you are in the shower rather than overnight. Pass your good habits down to your children; teach them how to sort the recycling.
NEAT’s Top 10 Ways to Reduce Holiday Waste 1. 2. 3.
Use LED lights. Skip the tinsel. Cook a slightly larger turkey and make stock out of the leftovers. (See recipe Page 3). 4. Reuse bows from last year. 5. Draw a name for gift exchange rather than buying for everyone. (Also helps the bank account!) 6. Make a donation in lieu of gifts. Local shelters and food banks (and NEAT—shameful, eh?) are always looking for help this time of year. 7. Give kids one practical gift (socks or pyjamas) and one playful one. 8. Start a holiday tradition with your family to help focus less on presents. Volunteer to serve dinner at a shelter or get together with neighbours. 9. Send an email holiday card/take digital photos. 10. If you really want to buy someone a present, consider buying them a plant. Plants help purify the air of toxins and live for many years!
Waste Reduction Office
In Fort St. John: 250-785-6328 Toll-free: 1-888-689-6328 Fax 250-785-6378 E-mail info@prrrdy.com Main Office 10027-100 St. Fort St John, BC V1J 3Y5
www.prrrdy.com Eco-Advisors
Dawson Creek & area 250-782-6399 email nicky@neat.ca North Peace 250-785-6328 email info@neat.ca Chetwynd/West Peace 250-401-1116 email jen@neat.ca
Peace River Regional District
In Dawson Creek: 250-784-3200 In Fort St. John: 250-785-8084 Toll-free: 1-800-670-7773
www.prrd.bc.ca
Facebook: NEAT –Northern
Environmental Action Team Twitter: NEATfsj
Electronics Recycling
Encorp Electronics www.encorp.ca/electronics/ Cell Phones www.rbrc.org www.pitch-in.ca
This newsletter was prepared by Northern Environmental Action Team on behalf of Peace River Regional District
And after the holidays… Tree Collections in the Peace Region The City of Dawson Creek has arranged that the First South Peace Boy Scouts will be collecting Christmas Trees starting Sunday, January 9th thru Thursday, January 13th, 2011. The City of Fort St. John has two community groups who will be picking up trees on Saturday, January 8th. The trees will be stored until spring when a contractor will come in and chip them for compost/ reuse. The District of Chetwynd will be providing curbside collection for the two weeks following Christmas, for further chipping and composting.
pRRRdy says…This newsletter is printed with vegetable based inks. If you don’t want to save this newsletter for reference, please recycle it.