Burnt Islands EDC receives Waste Management Trust Fund grant

Environment Minister Bob Mercer and Gordon Seabright, chairman of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), are pleased to announce a grant of $13,120 under the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund to the Economic Development Committee (EDC) of Burnt Islands.

The Economic Development Committee will use funds from the Trust Fund to implement an education and awareness program on composting. The committee will hire a coordinator to hold workshops on composting and develop and distribute educational material to 264 households in Burnt Islands. To further promote composting, the committee will distribute kitchen compost pails and large compost containers for use outside. A site will also be developed in the town for central composting.

"Composting is nature�s way of recycling and can easily be done in your own home," said Minister Mercer. "The benefit of composting is that it has the potential to reduce household garbage by one-third. By encouraging the residents of Burnt Islands to compost, the result is that less waste will go to the local landfill site. This certainly fits well with our strategy to have sound waste management practices in this province."

Since the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund was established in 1999, government has approved 278 applications and approximately $8 million in contributions. This funding has been disbursed to 300 schools, more than 155 municipalities, 45 environmental and community groups, and several businesses and school districts.

"Over the past four years, the Trust Fund has provided assistance to community groups, municipalities, schools, and businesses to aid in the development and implementation of waste management initiatives in the province," said Gordon Seabright. "It is through these projects that we create public awareness about the importance of working together to build a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations."

"I�m delighted that government has been able to fund this project," said Kelvin Parsons, MHA for Burgeo-LaPoile District. "This initiative is another step forward in helping to protect our environment for future generations."

MMSB is a Crown agency established by the Department of Environment to develop, implement, and manage a variety of waste diversion programs in Newfoundland and Labrador. MMSB is responsible for the Beverage Container and Used Tire Recycling Programs, Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program, the administration of the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund, and the public education and awareness of the Used Oil Recycling Program and the Provincial Waste Management Strategy.

Media contact:
          Karen O�Neill, MMSB, Communications, (709) 753-0949
          Carmel Turpin, Department of Environment, (709) 729-2575

2003 04 16                                        12:45 p.m.