Mandatory office paper program comes into effect September 1

Environment and Conservation Minister Tom Osborne today reminded businesses in St. John�s, Mount Pearl, Paradise and Conception Bay South that the mandatory office paper recycling initiative announced by government earlier this year comes into effect September 1.

Minister Osborne said the new paper fibre recycling program applies to industrial, commercial and institutional facilities who must set up a paper recycling program that ensures all recyclable paper products are separated and diverted from the regular waste stream.

�Starting September 1, all businesses with 25 employees or more will be required to participate in the recycling program which will see all office paper waste diverted from the landfill at Robin Hood Bay,� said the minister. �Businesses with less than 25 employees will have to comply with the regulations starting March 1, 2006.�

Minister Osborne said the office paper recycling program is an important waste diversion initiative that reduces the amount of waste going to our landfills, and also helps to foster economic growth in the recycling industry. �Not only does recycling help protect our environment, it also helps create new jobs and business opportunities in the local economy,� added the minister. �With the support we have received from the four municipalities involved, as well as the local businesses in the area, we are confident that this program will be a success. By working together on strategic initiatives like this one, we can make huge steps forward in our efforts to create a modern waste diversion system for the province.�

The kinds of office paper products that can be recycled through the program include white and color paper, newspapers, business cards, envelopes, post-it notes and file folders. Over the past several months, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) has worked with the four municipalities, as well as representatives from their respective business communities, to develop and implement an educational program on office paper recycling which is currently ongoing. As part of this initiative, all businesses with over 25 employees have also been provided with a �How To� recycling guide through a direct mail-out from MMSB. A similar guide will be distributed to businesses with less than 25 employees later this year.

Minister Osborne said protecting the environment is the responsibility of each and every one of us, and he is encouraging all businesses to do the right thing and adhere to the new regulations. �We must all do our part to protect the environment and continue to focus on environmental practices and programs that are effective and sustainable if we are to achieve our province�s goal of reducing the amount of waste going to our landfills by 50 per cent,� said the minister. �Given that cardboard and paper makes up about 30 per cent of our waste stream, the new office paper recycling initiative is indeed another important step forward in our resolve to achieve a modern waste diversion system for Newfoundland and Labrador.�

Anyone looking for more information on the program can contact MMSB at 1-866-371-5559 or the municipalities involved. Detailed information on office paper recycling tips is also available on MMSB�s Web site at www.mmsb.nl.ca

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications, (709) 729-2575, 685-6612

2005 08 25                                       10:25 a.m.