Compost Awareness Week is May 6-12 and the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Multi Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) reminds all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that it is time to get involved by participating in composting activities at home, work, and school to reduce the amount of waste entering our overburdened landfills.

Compost Awareness Week is designed to increase awareness about the environmental dangers of not handling organic waste properly and how we can take steps as individuals to make a difference.

"Organic waste makes up 30 per cent of our household garbage and every day in Newfoundland and Labrador over 300 tonnes of organic waste find its way into the local landfill sites," said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "That amount of waste is far too much to ignore. These products do not break down naturally when buried in the local dumps. Instead, over time they turn into environmental toxins such as greenhouse gases and can leach out of the landfills to poison our streams and ponds."

MMSB launched a two-year backyard composting program in the fall of 2005, with a goal of increasing participation in backyard composting by 50 per cent as a means of reducing a significant amount of this waste from entering our landfills.

"This program is just one of the successful waste management practices that propel us closer to achieving our overall waste reduction goals in the province," said Minister Jackman. "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to work diligently to implement more programs of this nature that will not only result in a reduced amount of waste being generated in our province, but also in what is being disposed of in our landfills."

Over 20,000 households are expected to take up backyard composting or increase their existing composting efforts through this initiative, either through the purchase of a new MMSB compost bin or by building their own bin with a plan provided by MMSB. In the first three months of the program, almost 10,000 compost bins were sold by MMSB.

MMSB attributes much of the success of its backyard composting program to the partnerships formed with municipalities, regional waste management committees, Green Depots and other community-based organizations who have participated in the implementation of the program. Some local groups have even provided their own subsidies on the compost bins beyond the subsidy offered directly by MMSB. A limited number of MMSB bins remain available at this time, so residents are encouraged to purchase one as soon as possible through a participating Green Depot or municipality.

"Composting is a simple and easy way for individual households to take ownership of this waste stream and manage it in a more environmentally responsible way," said John Scott, MMSB Chair and CEO. "Composting is easier than most people think, without any worry of odour or pests if done properly, and the rewards are reduced waste going to the curb and rich soil for use in flower beds, vegetable gardens and on lawns."

Residents are encouraged to participate in activities that promote composting this week. MUN Botanical Gardens in St. John�s is offering free compost demonstrations throughout the week. To find out more about composting or to order your own compost bin, call MMSB at 1-866-371-5559 or visit online at www.mmsb.nl.ca.

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.

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2007 05 07                                                9:40 a.m.