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
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