Thousands benefit from Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program

Almost 60,000 litres of hazardous waste was collected through the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board�s (MMSB) Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program which was held from May to October of 2002. Eighteen events were held in 14 municipalities and more than 2,300 people participated in the program. The majority of the waste collected through this year�s HHW program was paint and paint related materials, at 44 per cent, and oil, which represented 28 per cent of the waste collected.

"The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program plays a very important role in reducing the amount of hazardous wastes going to landfill sites. The collection and recycling of these materials will help eliminate some of the disposal and environmental problems associated with discarding these products in our landfills," said Gordon Seabright, MMSB chairman.

The HHW program, which runs from May 2002 to November 2003, provides safe hazardous waste collection for participating municipalities, raises awareness of household hazardous waste issues, and helps establish partnerships and linkages in participating communities. During the two-year program, MMSB will also assist municipalities to develop their own HHW programs.

The funding partners for this two-year program are the MMSB, Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund, Environment Canada�s EcoAction 2000 Program, and the participating municipalities.

"I am pleased to see that the program has been a great success. Working together, we are implementing up-to-date waste management which benefits our environment, our communities, and our people," said Kevin Aylward, Minister of Environment. "This program, in conjunction with other waste disposal programs, enhances the waste management strategy."

Collection events for the second year of the program will commence in May of 2003. Next year�s HHW program will have 15 municipalities participating and between 15 and 20 collection events.

Media contact:

Karen O�Neill, MMSB (709) 753-0949
Cynthia Layden Barron, Department of Environment (709) 729-2575

2002 11 06                                        2:15 p.m.