NLIS 4
October 14, 2005
(Environment and Conservation)


Newfoundland and Labrador celebrates Waste Reduction Week

Too Good to Waste! is the theme of Waste Reduction Week, being celebrated October 17 - 23. The Department of Environment and Conservation and MMSB encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to participate in activities and events at home, work, and school that focus on reducing the amount of waste produced, towards a goal of waste-free living.

Each year in Newfoundland and Labrador we throw 480,000 tonnes of garbage into our local dumps which is approximately two kilograms per person per day. That�s far too much to ignore. By reducing the amount of waste produced in the first instance we are conserving resources and limiting the need to reuse or recycle. Waste Reduction Week serves as a reminder of the role we all play in helping to reduce the amount of waste generated in the province.

�The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is striving to reduce the amount of waste
generated in our province through progressive new waste management practices," said Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "We have launched a number of exciting new initiatives in support of our overall goal to reduce the amount of waste going to our landfills by 50 per cent, including new cardboard and paper recycling programs throughout the province and a major province-wide campaign on backyard composting. We will continue to champion these efforts as a means of protecting our environment for present and future generations.�

Waste Reduction Week is a national initiative which aims to inform and engage Canadians about wasteful practices and their environmental and social ramifications. Newfoundland and Labrador joins this initiative by distributing resource kits providing tips on reducing, reusing and recycling in addition to educational and promotional materials and activities.

"MMSB is encouraging all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to think of recycling as part of a much larger picture - waste reduction. Many people are already recycling but we encourage them to consider what they are throwing away and the environmental impact it is causing. Their efforts will contribute to the achievement of our overall waste reduction goals," said John Scott, chair and CEO of MMSB.

MMSB is a provincial Crown agency that reports to the Minister of Environment and Conservation. MMSB supports modern waste management practices in the province, with a particular focus on waste diversion, recycling and public education, in order to ensure a clean and healthy environment throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

For additional WRW information, contact MMSB at 1-800-901-MMSB or on-line at www.mmsb.nf.ca. You can also visit the national Waste Reduction Week in Canada site at www.wrwcanada.com.

Media contact:
  Deborah Slade, MMSB, (709) 753-0949
  Sonia B. Glover, Environment and Conservation, (709) 729-2575, 685-6612

2005 10 14                             12:00 noon


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