Going Green Oct 27 2008

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GOING GREEN, Monday, October 27, 2008

Going Green

Times THE

NORTH NORT NO RTH H T THOMPSON HOM OMPS PSON

Where does our recycling go?

When we recycle, we reduce the amount of garbage going to our local landfills and turn our waste into new products like boxes, tissues or shampoo bottles – and uses less energy, too!

The materials collected at our new recycling depots are sorted with the help of conveyor belts, screens and human hands at the Metro Waste Paper Recovery Plant in Kelowna. These materials are then sold to mills and manufacturers to be made into new products. Some of the revenue from the sale of these materials is put back into the program to help offset the costs to provide the service.

Most of our paper, cardboard, metal and plastic is shipped to mills right here in BC. Newspaper goes to Catalyst Paper in Port Coquitlam and is made into more newspaper. Boxboard and cardboard go to Noram-

pac in Burnaby and is made into new boxes.

Plastic is sent to Merlin Plastics in Delta and is recycled into non-food plastic containers such as soap or shampoo bottles. Recycled plastics are also used for fleece clothing, as well as some carpets. Our tin and aluminum goes to ABC Recycling in Burnaby and is melted into rebar and o t h e r metal products.

O f fice paper and glass are both shipped out of province. Office paper is sent to Harman Associates in Oregon and used for tissue paper. Glass is sent to Vitreous Glass outside of Calgary and made into fiberglass insulation. Recycled glass can also be used in reflective paints and sandblasting.

The bottom line – recycling works! It closes the loop – turning our waste into a valuable resource instead of filling up precious space in our landfills.

Most of our paper, cardboard, metal and plastic is shipped to mills right here in BC.

Kevin Krueger, MLA KAMLOOPS - NORTH THOMPSON 9 - 111 Oriole Road Kamloops, BC, V2C 4N6 Toll Free • 1-888-299-0805 314-6031 for calls from Darfield to Kamloops

“Here to Help You”

"The materials collected at our new recycling depots are sorted with the help of conveyor belts, screens and human hands at the Metro Waste Paper Recovery Plant in Kelowna."

Recycle Today Recycle Today for for Tommorrow's World Tomorrow’s World.

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GOING GREEN, Monday, October 27, 2008

Too Good to Waste! actually buying it and to avoid buying overpackaged products. We should also reuse products, thus giving them a second life. Among other things, that means repairing objects instead of throwing them away, buying secondhand items and giving homemade gifts.

Finally, we should recycle as much as we can to minimize the use of natural resources, keeping in mind, for instance, that it takes 95% less energy to produce new aluminium from discarded aluminium pop cans than it does from raw materials.

During Waste Reduction Week, individuals, as well as municipalities,

Did you know that in a lifetime, the average North American will throw away 600 times his adult weight in garbage? Needless to say that Waste Reduction Week held in Canada from October 19 to 25 plays an important role in raising awareness about all those things that we throw away and which are too good to waste!

How can we do our share to minimize waste?

The first step would be to adopt the 3-R approach: reduce, reuse and recycle.

The best waste is the waste we don’t produce. What a good reason to buy less, to ask ourselves if we really need something before

businesses and schools are asked to make an effort, because every segment of our society can make a difference in the amount of waste that is produced across Canada. Municipalities should lead their communities in that matter by proclaiming Waste Reduction Week from October 19 to 25 and by organizing activities that will encourage children and adults to contribute solutions for waste-free living. And remember, every small gesture counts!

Do the Right Thing...

Rechargeable Battery and Cell Phone Recycling Program Guidelines RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES: If it’s rechargeable, it’s recyclable! Look for the Seal! When you see any of theses seals or the abbreviations Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Li-ion or Pb* imprinted on a battery pack, it means that the battery can be recycled.

CELL PHONES: Any cellular phone is accepted in the Call2RecycleTM program. We will accept any size, make, model, digital or analog, with or without battery or charger.

Recycle Now and Reduce your Waste The new “Recycle Now” program is made up of two parts, a new blue bag recycling service and a “pay as you throw” garbage service.

Here are some important questions and answers about the new program.

When does it start?

The new program will officially start on January 1st, 2009. The TNRD has opened four more recycling depots to help residents and businesses recycle and reduce their waste. These new facilities have opened at Clearwater, Sun Peaks and Merritt, and Pritchard, and are in addition to the sites at Logan Lake, Clinton and Lytton where the program was first pilot tested earlier this year. Fees for garbage will also be required in January and you’ll be able to start buying your eco-cards at convenient retail locations starting in December.

What can I recycle?

You can recycle as much of the following materials as you like at no charge: tin and aluminum cans, mixed paper, plastics numbered 1-7, boxboard and heavy paper. Simply keep recycling separate from your garbage in blue or see-through bags and dump them into the recycling bins provided – you can also reuse your bags.

There will be two other bins for glass food and beverage containers and corrugated cardboard that need to be kept separate.

What does “pay as you throw” mean?

Each bag of garbage for disposal will cost $1 and just like many other utilities such as electricity or gas, the less you use the service the less you will pay. Under the “pay as you throw” program, you’ll have more control of

your garbage disposal costs.

By recycling, composting or smart shopping you’ll create less waste and pay less at the transfer stations and landfills.

I already pay for solid waste on my taxes, isn’t this an extra charge?

While costs to operate all of our transfer stations and landfills are already on our taxes, there is not enough to cover the increasing cost for waste collection. Rather than continue to increase costs for everyone, the new program will give you more control over your garbage.

The new ‘Recycle More’ program will provide an incentive for people to recycle rather than throwing everything in the garbage. The more you recycle, the less you pay, rather than raising rates for everyone.

What’s an Eco-Card?

Instead of paying for your garbage at the transfer station each time you go, you’ll be able to purchase punchcards called Eco-Cards from convenient municipal and retail locations throughout the TNRD. These cards will be available in various amounts such as $5, $10 and more. You simply present your card to the attendant at the transfer station to punch out the number equal to the number of bags or quantity of waste you have for disposal.

Will there be changes at the transfer stations?

As part of the changes to provide recycling, and to reduce waste and abuse at the transfer stations, these sites will be fenced and open set hours with an attendant on site, similar to those in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.

Is this program more dif-

ficult for low income and large families?

As with other utilities and services, the less you use, the less you pay. All households will have the same opportunities to reduce their waste by using recycling, composting or creating less waste with good buying practices.

Could “pay as you throw” cause an increase in illegal dumping?

While some communities do see a small increase in illegal dumping shortly after a “pay as you throw” program is implemented, they also note a decline again as people get used to the program. In the short term, the TNRD is setting up an illegal dumping program that includes: A hotline for the public to observe record and report illegal dumping.

Work with Provincial Conservation Officers to monitor the situation and patrol “hot spots” Establish a community clean up program where local residents can get bags, gloves and free landfill tipping fees when they clean up litter or an illegal dump site on public property Where can I get more information?

This is just the initial announcement and we’ll provide more updates this fall as the launch of the program gets closer. In the meantime, for more information, visit our website at www.tnrd. bc.ca or email us at recyclenow@tnrd.bc.ca.

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GOING GREEN, Monday, October 27, 2008

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What’s in the Bag?

Enviro: Electronics Almost every home is loaded down with electronics these days. Between one or more computers, games and various other pieces of equipment we are pulling power to places unknown not many years ago.

Make sure all new equipment carries the Energy Star label which indicates more efficient power use. Also, use the ‘sleep mode’ on your computer if it's not convenient to turn it off when not in use. It is an urban myth that computers are damaged if restarted numerous times a day.

Unless you are using you printer all day long, turn it off as well. If you need a printer throughout the day, you can use

a plug-in timer which will automatically turn the unit off, or invest in a model that automatically powers down when not in use.

Between mobile phones, cell phones, recharging batteries, microwave ovens, coffee makers, etc., our homes are pulling power even when equipment is idle.

Unplug everything not in use because ‘phantom power’ – electricity used by the item just by being plugged in – can add up to significant money annually.

What to do with your home office equipment when the time comes to upgrade? It is estimated a staggering three-quarters of all computers pur-

chased are still stashed in basements and attics, which is a serious problem.

If your computer or printer is still viable, an idea would be to check with local schools, library or charity shop and offer to donate your equipment.

If your gear is not usable, your local recycling depot may accept electronics. If you are unsure of where to dispose of used equipment, please don’t put in the garbage or take it to the landfill, as electronics contain significant amounts of lead and heavy metals which need to be handled properly.

Take the time to phone your local government office and ask for advice.

Recycling in North Thompson communities just keeps on rolling out!

With more recycling facilities being introduced to our area all the time, households are able to recycle closer to home making recycling a reality in all households.

With the District of Clearwater being added to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District’s (TNRD) blue bag recycling program, and the upcoming introduction of the District of Barriere’s recycling program, area residents are taking an active role in reducing the amount of waste that is going to our regional landfills.

This preferred method of recycling is helping area residents to recycle a large variety of household materials including plastics #1-7, tin cans and aluminum foil,

all clean paper products, boxboard, cardboard and glass. Blue bag recycling is an easy and cost effective recycling program available to residents of the TNRD. Area residents simply place all dry, clean recyclable materials in a clear blue plastic bag available at local grocery stores. Once full, the bag can then be deposited in the large green bins at your local TNRD recycling depot for free. The recyclables are then processed and shipped to businesses that turn discarded materials into new products, demonstrating the recycler’s motto of “closing the loop”. Most of these businesses are located in southwest British Columbia while a few are located in Washington and Oregon.

The blue bag recycling system was selected by the

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TNRD because it offers a full suite of recyclable materials to be collected in a convenient single blue bag container within the home.

With the exception of glass and large amounts of corrugated cardboard, all other recyclable material may be placed in the blue bags.

At TNRD recycling depots, large green bins are used to collect the blue bag recyclables. By collecting large amounts of recyclables in one bin rather than multiple bins the costs related to the handling and transporting of the recyclables is reduced and decreases emissions as well. This recycling program will also allow the TNRD to use their existing infrastructure to collect recyclable materials, which cuts down on additional costs.

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GOING GREEN, Monday, October 27, 2008

Coming Soon: Waste Web site and Recycling Directory Ever wonder what to do with old batteries, light bulbs, paint or motor oil? Starting this month, the answers will be an easy click away. The TNRD is launching a new Solid Waste Management web site that brings all the information about recycling, garbage programs and landfills together on one convenient web site.

The new site will include an easy to use Recycling Directory that provides info about

where to recycle, reuse and safely dispose of materials and more.

Give or Get Free Stuff! The new site will also link to the TNRD Reuses website at www.tnrdreuses.com that provides an online listing of items, like furniture or appliances for swap or sale – instead of sending it to the local landfill or transfer station.

Watch for details at www.tnrd.bc.ca.

Make Compost, not Landfill Back for 2008 was the ever popular TNRD backyard compost program. This program allows area residents to take advantage of composting yard and household organics in a composting container that is available through the regional district. Composting allows households to work with nature to turn yard, garden and kitchen scraps into rich, dark soil, called humus. Finished compost is an excellent conditioner for your soil, increasing the amount of air and moisture reaching the roots for larger, healthier, plants. Composting is also an easy and effective way to reduce household garbage by as much as 50%.

Composting is a simple process, well suited to the amount of time and energy you are willing to devote to your compost project. It’s a unique way to return organics to the soil, nurturing your local environment; right in your own backyard.

By composting your organic materials you are also helping to reduce the pressure that household waste puts on regional landfills. When we landfill our organics, valuable space is taken up and greenhouse gases are created which contribute to global warming.

Like many of our materials

that we dispose of as garbage, organic materials can be easily handled in more environmentally responsible ways.

By composting, chipping, and mulching we can turn kitchen and yard waste that can easily be composted in our backyards into nutrient rich soil that is ideal for gardens and lawns. Paper and cardboard are not only recyclable;

they are also great materials for composting as a dry additive. A nicely functioning compost bin uses oxygen to decompose materials. Instead of creating greenhouse gases, compost helps to retain moisture and returns needed nutrients to depleted soil, which is an added bonus in the dry environment of the Southern Interior.

We Are HERE ...and dedicated to making a difference.

The District of Clearwater signed onto the British Columbia Climate Action Charter at the Oct 21st Regular Council meeting.

The Council of the District of Clearwater agrees to undertake policies and initiatives towards (1) becoming carbon neutral in respect of their operations by 2012, (2) measuring and reporting on the community’s green house gas (GHG) emissions proÄle, and (3) creating a complete, compact, more energy efÄcient rural community; and authorizes Mayor Harwood to sign “The British Columbia Climate Action Charter” on behalf of the District Council.

District of 132 Station Road Clearwater, B.C.

Phone # 250 674-2257 Fax # 250 674-2173

Office hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:30

Email admin@ districtofclearwater.com

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GOING GREEN, Monday, October 27, 2008

BUYER OF ALL TYPES OF SCRAP METAL

Enviro: Insulation After a sound, functional roof and wall siding, one of the most efficient ways of keeping your family warm and your energy costs down is to make sure your insulation is up to scratch.

If you have a crawlspace, take a deep breath and shimmy under the house to check that the insulation is still firmly in place and the plastic on the ground is still pliable and sealed.

While you are under the house, check any water pipes snaking around and cover with foam insulating pipe or wrap with insulation. A cold January morning is no time to be scrambling around trying to thaw frozen pipes!

Work your way up, inspecting windows and doors for air leaks by using an incense stick or candle to check for drafts.

If you have air leaks use caulking and weather stripping to help trap heat

inside.

If you have inefficient windows and/or glass doors you can buy a little time by using shrink-film.

Directions are on the package and require a hair dryer to pull the film taut and create an air pocket.

Make sure you close your drapes at night to add another layer of protection.

contain warmth and comfort through the winter months. If you use batttype insulation know that it is only as good as the installation, so make sure every gap is filled completely and evenly.

Products with increased density generally achieve higher insulating value.

When checking insulation throughout the house, make sure insulation around plumbing and wiring is not compressed as this reduces the effectiveness.

A cold January morning is no time to be scrambling around trying to thaw frozen pipes!

Kamloops

Scrap Iron

Check pipes, air ducts, vents – anything that goes through the shell of the house – and close gaps with caulk or insulation.

If you don’t have insulated electrical plugs, install foam insulators behind the plate of each outlet.

Finally, climb into the attic and check the insulation. Heat rises, so this is the last stop to

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Blue Bag Recycling is soon to arrive in Barriere. Waste reduction in the North Thompson is about to take on a whole new look at our Barriere Landfill.

Beginning in Mid-November, residents of Barriere will be able to recycle using the easy and convenient blue bag recycling program.

The Blue Bag Program will give residents of Barriere the opportunity to do their part in:

Energy Conservation Pollution Reduction, and Overall Waste Management Let’s take responsibility for the environment together….

Grab your stacks of paper, load up your plastics and help turn old materials into new products.

What CAN go in the Blue Bag?

What should NOT go in the Blue Bag?

· · · ·

· · · · · · · ·

plastics #1-7 clean paper products aluminum foil tin cans (labels and lids OK)

Bubble Wrap Diapers Plastic Film or Styrofoam Un-rinsed food containers Toxic items (batteries, paint cans, aerosol cans) Electronic items or small appliances Glass Corrugated Cardboard

It’s simple – place your recyclables in one bag and leave your bag on the curb for pick up on your garbage collection day.

Good news – The Barriere Landfill will have three large bins available for residents to drop off their recyclables. One of them will be for glass, one for corrugated cardboard and the other for general recyclables.

Watch for more details as they become available, in your local paper.

Just a reminder: The District of Barriere still has Composters available for sale at the District Office.

4936 Barriere Town Road (Barriere Ridge Elementary)

Box 219 Barriere, BC V0E 1E0

Phone: 250.672.9751 Email: inquiry@districtofbarriere.com www.districtofbarriere.com

Go GREEN

By Going BLUE!

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GOING GREEN, Monday, October 27, 2008

Why I Recycle

By Rick Weik Apart from the obvious reason of trying to make part of my living in salvage & recycling I have been concerned about pollution since before starting in business in 1981. The big “green” buzz is about global warming & though I am not sure we aren’t dealing with normal cycles in climate (over the 20th century several alarms were raised both about warming & cooling - even worry about a new “ice age”) I think there is no argument that pollution is bad.

One of the worst way we pollute is waste & one of the best ways to reduce waste is recycling. The TNRD, Provincial Government & Recycling Council of B. C. all are concerned about waste management, costs & reducing waste. There is much talk of achieving “zero waste” even though that may not be literally possible.

But with some serious re-thinking & effort on the individual level we should be able to vastly reduce our inputs into landfills. It is probably too costly & impractical to just take all garbage mixed to a central processing station & hire people to sort through it into various categories of recycling, reusing & composting etc. (For one thing there are & would be issues of cross contamination.) It will most likely take following the example of a lady in Seattle. I saw this story probably 20 years ago about how she had reduced landfill

garbage for her household to one small bag per week. She did this by rinsing all cans & glass containers, soaking or stripping paper labels & sorting it all before putting it out for collection. This along with newspaper & cardboard recycling eliminated most of her true garbage.

I adopted & adapted the same method for my household way back then & usually took 3 weeks before I had enough garbage to put on the curb. As individuals we have or will soon have depots or bins to which we can take most paper, containers & cardboard in reasonable household quantities. Many larger items & larger quantities can be dropped off to me or picked up by me (see last paragraph). Our individual efforts & concerns can make a big difference to our environment.

In 27 years of business I have always tried to encourage customers to keep recyclables separate from landfill trash.

Now that I am “older” & have suffered some of the ravages of age I don’t do so much landscaping & outside maintenance (I don’t want to climb ladders anymore) I concentrate on recycling & waste management. I will pick up recycling material for a fee & offer free drop off (by arrangement) of any metal (including e-waste appliances, large & small, light fixtures, electrical wire etc.) & newsprint & cardboard. I also do rubbish removal, including u-load roll-off bins.

Pine Cone Bird Feeders Are Fun To Make

By Elli Kohnert Making pine cone birdfeeders is like catching two birds with one idea. It is a practical, and environmentally friendly method to feed birds in winter, engaging families in a creative activity at the same time.

These feeders are a simple project that even young children can help create. It is also a good opportunity to go for a walk in the woods to collect the cones.

Different sizes and types of cones can be used, but it is a good idea to spread them out in a warm place before working with them, so they will open. The opening leaves larger spaces to fill with lard, vegetable shortening, or peanut butter.

Cover the working surface for making the feeders with old newspaper, because it can be a messy job.

You may want to fill some cones with crunchy peanut butter only, some birds like this treat, and resident squirrels especially enjoy helping themselves. It is best to keep the finished product in a cool place to harden before hanging them outside on tree branches in your yard, or even on some sturdy bushes.

If you have a small to medium spruce tree in your yard, you can use medium sized bird feeder cones as outdoor Christmas decorations. It can be a pleasure for families to watch lively little birds flutter like ornaments among the seed filled cones and to know that the little creatures have an easy food supply available that you have provided for them.

The supplies needed are: • Pine cones • A variety of fat fillings • Birdseed, or oat and cornmeal • A few feet of string, fishing line or twine To begin, tie a few feet of string to the top of the pine cone. Next press the shortening or lard in and around the cone, place it into a shallow dish filled with bird seed and roll it around until it is thickly covered.

Enviro: Lighting

Environmental entrepreneur Rick Weik and faithful companion Rosie.

Keep our highways clean Use the litter barrels

If you are itching to do something immediately to help the environment, lighting is the place to start.

Spending just $100 can make a huge difference on your hydro bill, starting just a few weeks after making the change.

It is more expensive to buy compact fluorescent bulbs than the standard incandescent bulb, but here’s the kicker, they last 10 times longer and use 75 per cent less energy, so the return on investment is swift.

Translated into hours of use that means a regular compact fluorescent bulb will last between 7,000 to

10,000 hours and bulbs with ballasts last an amazing 45,000 hours. Money well spent!

Take time to really analyze the job of each lighting fixture and use the lowest wattage bulb possible.

Use task lighting where possible – there is no point lighting the whole room when, for instance, a reading lamp does the job.

Much the same as outside security lights, inside occupancy sensors literally sense the presence of someone in the room and turn on the light. Conversely, when you leave the room the light goes off.

Just think, no more yelling

at the kids! The good news is they don’t require special wiring. Just replace a standard pole switch.

It’s scary to think Christmas is coming, but start thinking about replacing your old Christmas lights with LED strings. LEDs use up to 95 per cent less electricity and last up to 10 times longer. They give off less heat so are very safe and are readily available in all the traditional colours.

Take advantage of the great calculators on the BC Hydro website at www.bchydro/powersmart to help make your lighting decisions.

RECYCLING & GARBAGE CLEAN UP

Recycling ALL Metals: Including all e-waste (TVs, Computers, Stereo Equipment etc.)

All Appliances Large & Small, Electrical Cords & Wire etc.

Also Old Cardboard, Newsprint, Office Paper etc.

Fee for pick-up/drop off by arrangement for free

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GOING GREEN, Monday, October 27, 2008

Glass is often used in an outside door, most often in the front door for esthetic or security reasons. Doors made of glass other than the frame, only carry an RValue of .09 for single pane and 2.0 for double pane, so the heat loss is very significant. Glass use should be avoided but, if necessary, double paned Low-E should be used, and as little as possible.

An air-lock vestibule or mudroom is especially valuable in colder climates because of the ability to access the home while preventing gusts of cold air entering the house. Those of you with kids, who for some reason need to go in and out constantly, will find this especially attractive!

What to do with items not taken? No problem, they will be bagged and can be dropped off to area thrift stores.

A Clothing Exchange takes only a small amount of effort to organize. It promises good fun, and the satisfaction to have taken part in recycling and reusing, a great way to be part of today’s Green Movement.

How to wrap the perfect gift with newsprint Christmas is one of the least environmentally friendly times of the year. We all love the moment when we get to unwrap our presents and find out what’s inside - but with the amount of excessive packaging that comes with gifts these days, we’re left with 545,000 tonnes of unwanted boxes, decora-

Wrap the gift in newspaper.

tions and gift wrap a year.

However, it isn’t hard to make your holiday celebration a little more green and help save the planet. Consider this.if everyone in Canada wrapped

Cut a fairly wide strip from the remaining wrapping paper long enough to go around the center of the gift.

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doors, hopefully solid, as hollow wood doors score very low on the R-value scale. Wooden doors are more energy efficient if they are coupled with a storm door in winter. A tight fitting storm door works by creating an insulating air space between itself and your wooden exterior door.

A great choice is an insulated or thermal door. An insulated metal door has an Rvalue of between 4 and 8, which is excellent. Insulated metal doors do not react to temperature or humidity changes, and don’t warp or swell so they can be fitted much tighter than wooden doors and have an added security bonus.

Cut a diagonal line, threefourths of the way up, on each corner of the square to create four triangular-shaped areas.

just three gifts in reused paper or gift bags, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 hockey rinks.

Fold the edges of the strip under, wrap it around the gift and tape the ends on the back.

Fold the left-hand corner of each triangular-shaped area to the center of the square and tape loosely to create a pinwheel bow.

- News Canada

Cut one large square of newspaper and one large square of wrapping paper and tape them loosely together.

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Any opening to your home forms part of the thermal envelope and it is essential choices are made to minimize heat loss and increase the comfort level, especially in winter.

Doors share many of the problems and solutions as your windows – conduction, infiltration and radiant losses.

Most of us have wooden

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Enviro: Doors

clutter-up storage areas.

There are many variations on the theme of an exchange; it may be seasonal, or any type of specialty, it is left to the imagination of the organizers.

How about having a recipe trade at the same time?

Bring some cookies to sample, and make copies of the recipes to take home?

It is an opportunity to be creative and an innovative recycler.

by Elli Kohnert A group of women in Vernon came up with the idea of a ‘Clothing Exchange’ that is not only practical but gives women an opportunity to spend some social time together.

There is no cost involved, except to provide some refreshments for the event, and that would be shared by several of the participants.

Someone who has a fairly spacious home could be the host of a clothing exchange event that is reminiscent of a Tupperware party, without the purchasing component.

Invitations would be sent to a number of women, preferably in the neighborhood, so most ‘guests’ can walk or bicycle to it. Those who participate bring their contributions a day in advance, so that time is available for sorting garments by type, etc. The idea can be expanded by also offering sewing materials and yarns that often

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replace the toilet.

Install a water dam in the standard toilet tank.

Dams fit in the bottom of the tank and spring out to seal against the sides reducing water volume without reducing flush pressure. A low-tech solution is to fill a plastic bottle, or bag, with water and hang inside the tank; this displaces the water the same way as a water dam. Don’t use a building brick as it can disintegrate over time and create further problems.

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openings, creating the feel of standard water flow, much like lowflow shower heads. The added bonus of installing these units throughout the house is a significant energy saving of around 15 per cent.

An ultra-low volume toilet, with a six-litre flush saves an amazing 66 per cent of water used per flush. This is the ideal, but there are things you can do to start saving water, and money, immediately until it is time to

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We are blessed in British Columbia with beautiful clean water to drink, but water is finite and we shouldn’t take this gift for granted.

In the not too distant future, many municipalities will require water meters to be installed to register how much water is used in the home, and residents will be charged for total usage.

Now is the time to become aware of how this gift is utilized and put in place systems to use it wisely.

One of the easiest is to install a low-flow shower head. Showers can use up to 190 litres of water using a standard shower head, but this can be cut in half, without losing water pressure, with the low-flow.

Another easy fix is installing faucet aerators, which work by pushing the water through small

Have Some Fun Recycling Your Surplus Clothing

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Enviro: Showers, faucets and toilets

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Attach the bow to the center of the gift, fluff the ends, and voila, your gift is complete.

NOR TH THOMPSON

The Times 250-672-5611

250-674-3343

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GOING GREEN, Monday, October 27, 2008

What’s New in the TNRD? Regional Solid Waste Management Plan Mosquito Control Program Noxious Weeds Program

Blue Bag Recycling Program Waste Reduction & Smart Shopper Info Backyard & Worm Composting Workshops Electrical Waste Roundups