The following is being distributed at the request of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB):

Provincial backyard composting program launched

Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and Conservation, and John Scott, Chair and CEO of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), today formally launched an important new residential backyard composting program for the province.

The main objective of the new composting initiative is to help reduce harmful organic household waste from entering landfills and move the province another step closer to achieving its overall waste management goals. Through this program, MMSB will provide residents with a cost-effective and simple way to compost their kitchen and yard waste in their own backyards. The program includes subsidized compost bins available for purchase from MMSB, free �build your own� compost plans, and a major public education campaign to promote the benefits and ease of backyard composting.

To provide quality bins to the public at a low start-up cost, MMSB has partnered with Environment Canada�s EcoAction Program to offer ready-made manufactured compost bins to individual households for $19.95 (plus HST). Some municipalities are offering further financial subsidies on the bins to encourage even greater participation in their own communities.

Information on how to purchase these bins anywhere in the province can be obtained by calling MMSB�s toll-free number at 1-866-371-5559.

Minister Osborne said the backyard composting program is a very important waste diversion initiative for the province, given that organic waste makes up as much as one-third of all waste generated in Newfoundland and Labrador. �This program will help achieve the province�s 50 per cent waste diversion goal by giving households the knowledge and tools they need to divert organic kitchen and yard waste from our landfills. It will also have a very real and positive impact on the environment.�

While not commonly recognized in the public domain, landfills are not capable of breaking down organic waste material harmlessly. And in Newfoundland and Labrador, we throw 300 tonnes of organic waste into our landfills � every day. Harmful greenhouse gases are produced from this practice and dangerous liquid toxins are generated from decomposing organic material that can seep out of landfills and pollute the environment if not properly contained and managed. �The message is simple - the more organic waste we divert from our landfills, the more we protect our environment,� said Minister Osborne.

Mr. Scott said he is very optimistic about the potential of this program. �The two year goal of this program is to increase participation in backyard composting by 50 per cent. If we reach this goal together, it will mean that 20,000 new households in Newfoundland and Labrador will have taken up backyard composting and over 2,000 tonnes of additional waste will be diverted from our landfills.�

Mr. Scott also emphasized the great benefits for individual households. �Composting converts our organic waste into a valuable material that can be used in flower beds, vegetable gardens, lawns, household plants or can even be given to friends and neighbours to help grow greener and healthier yards. There are also tangible benefits to municipalities and taxpayers in that local waste collection and disposal costs can be lowered significantly as more and more waste is diverted from landfill.�

During the planning stages for this new program, MMSB invited all municipalities, regional waste management committees and various other community-based organizations to partner with it in the implementation of the program. �MMSB was pleased with the response and, in particular, thanks those communities who have decided to play a role in either subsidizing the compost bins over what MMSB is able to offer them for or purchasing a number of bins directly from MMSB for resale and distribution to their residents,� said Mr. Scott. A list of all such participating communities is attached.

Minister Osborne also expressed his appreciation to MMSB�s partners. �I applaud the commitment and support of these communities to this important environmental stewardship initiative and encourage others to consider similar action to ensure maximum benefit is realized for their own communities.�

Minister Osborne concluded by noting that almost two-thirds of our landfills are made up of fibre and organic materials. �This new program, along with our recently implemented paper and cardboard recycling programs across the province are great advances towards achieving our waste management goals. I commend the leadership shown by MMSB on this particular initiative and look forward to working with the board as government continues to be proactive in waste diversion and recycling throughout the province.�

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.

Media contact:
Dave Penney, Communications, MMSB, (709) 753-0993
Sonia Glover, Communications, Environment and Conservation, (709) 729-2575, 685-6612

Participating Communities in MMSB Backyard Composting Program

Communities providing additional subsidy on compost bins (subsidies are limited in number in each community):

• Corner Brook
• Clarenville
• Channel-Port aux Basques
• Placentia
• Stephenville
• Harbour Breton
• Gander
• Lewisporte
• Torbay
• Portugal Cove-St. Philips

Communities purchasing and reselling/distributing bins on behalf of MMSB (at MMSB�s price of $19.95, plus HST):

• Holyrood
• Steady Brook
• Cottlesville
• Point Leamington
• St. Lawrence
• Old Perlican
• Baie Verte
• Birchy Bay
• Appleton
• Carbonear
• Kippens
• Green Bay Waste Authority
• Northern Wellness Committee � Northern Peninsula
• Gros Morne Cooperating Association
• Torbay Environment and Trails Committee

2005 09 07                            10:45 a.m.