NLIS 5
May 4, 2005
(Environment and Conservation)


Commercial cardboard recycling program for Exploits Valley region

Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and Conservation, and Don Reid, chair of the Exploits Regional Services Board, today announced a cardboard recycling initiative that will see commercial cardboard waste diverted from the regional landfill in the Exploits Valley region.
Minister Osborne said his department and the Exploits Regional Services Board will be enacting provincial regulations that will ban the disposal of cardboard from businesses, industry and institutions at the New Bay Road regional landfill site, effective September 1, 2005. The New Bay Road waste disposal site serves the communities of Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop�s Falls, Botwood and Northern Arm.

"I wish to commend the Exploits Regional Services Board for its commitment to the environment by introducing this important waste diversion program," said Minister Osborne. "This cardboard recycling initiative demonstrates good environmental stewardship and will play a key role in reducing the amount of waste going to our landfills by 50 per cent as outlined in the provincial waste management strategy. Fibre-related materials make up over 30 per cent of the waste that is landfilled today, with cardboard from businesses, industry and institutions representing the largest part of that particular waste stream."

Minister Osborne said consultations have taken place with the Exploits Regional Chamber of Commerce, local waste haulers and recyclers, and the communities who use the regional landfill site to ensure that a viable and practical cardboard recycling program can be put in place, and he added that all stakeholders are supportive of the new program. The minister said Scotia Recycling will be accepting the commercial cardboard diverted from the landfill site for processing and delivery to markets from its recycling facility in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Under the new program, generators of commercial cardboard waste will be required to separate their cardboard from the normal waste stream and work with their existing waste haulers to recycle it through Scotia Recycling or take it directly to Scotia Recycling themselves for processing rather than to the New Bay Road landfill site.

The Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) will be assisting the Exploits Regional Services Board in carrying out an educational and awareness program on the cardboard ban for the businesses, industries and institutions affected.

Mr. Reid said, "On behalf of the towns of Bishop�s Falls, Grand Falls-Windsor, Botwood and Northern Arm, the Exploits Regional Services Board is proud of this important initiative that will decrease the amount of waste entering our landfill site. I commend the cooperative spirit of all towns and businesses for this new recycling program, and I would also encourage all residents in our area to participate in environmental efforts."

Mr. Reid also noted that while the cardboard ban is a very positive environmental initiative for the region, it will also play an important role in ensuring the regional landfill site is managed and operated in the most cost-effective manner possible. "Since we closed the incinerator at the New Bay Road landfill site last year we have used as much space at the landfill as we did in 16 full years before the incinerator closed. Diversion of cardboard from the landfill is critical to ensuring the most productive use of the site at the lowest possible cost to its users and taxpayers in the region."

Windsor-Springdale MHA Ray Hunter said, "I applaud the Exploits Regional Services Board for embarking upon this progressive environmental initiative and also commend the municipalities who are committing to this project. This is a very valuable environmental program for central Newfoundland and I wish everyone involved great success."

Minister Osborne added that government is committed to helping implement progressive waste diversion and recycling programs in partnership with regional organizations and municipalities throughout the province and will continue to move forward in these efforts to achieve a modern and environmentally acceptable waste management system for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Media contact:
   Sonia Glover, Communications, (709) 729-2575, 685-6612
   Don Reid, Chair, Exploits Regional Services Board, (709) 258-6581

2005 05 04                                11:25 a.m.


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