May 22, 2013
The following is being distributed at the request of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board:
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Focusing on Smaller Communities in 2013
The Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) is once again providing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with a convenient way to properly dispose of household hazardous waste by partnering with volunteer fire departments in rural communities across the province, as well as the City of Corner Brook and the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
The Household Hazardous Waste Program provides a valuable recycling service to residents of the province, ensuring this waste stream stays out of landfills protecting the environment. In addition to providing an environmentally-friendly way for residents to dispose of household hazardous waste, the program aims to raise public awareness about the dangers associated with such waste if not managed and disposed of properly.
“On average, every single citizen in our province generates seven litres of household hazardous waste every year,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Environment and Conservation and Minister Responsible for the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board. “While this may not seem significant, it only takes a few drops of hazardous waste to contaminate our water supplies. We all have a responsibility to dispose of this extremely harmful waste in a prudent manner.”
Regional waste management authorities have continued to expand household hazardous waste programs in their regions through additional permanent depots and mobile collection events, extending the reach of convenient and proper disposal solutions in the province. The MMSB’s collection events target communities that, at this time, do not have access to permanent depots or collection services provided by a regional waste management authority.
“At the MMSB, we are always looking at ways to expand and improve our waste diversion and recycling programs,” said Mike Samson, CEO of MMSB. “Last year, through our partnership with volunteer fire departments and communities we were able to keep over 90,000 litres of household hazardous waste materials out of local landfills.”
The 11 participating volunteer fire departments are responsible for collecting and storing the household hazardous waste materials and in turn MMSB will provide a financial honorarium that the fire departments can use to support the important work they undertake in their communities.
A list of participating communities is provided in the backgrounder below. A complete schedule of events, permanent depot locations and a detailed list of materials accepted through the program are available on MMSB’s website at www.mmsb.nl.ca 
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Media contacts:
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Deborah Thomas Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 728-8092 DeborahThomas@gov.nl.ca |
Jill Pitcher Senior Public Education Officer MMSB 709-753-0949, 730-2120 jpitcher@mmsb.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
MMSB HHW Collection Events
MMSB has delivered the Household Hazardous Waste Program since 1998 with funding from the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund. To date, nearly one million litres of household hazardous waste – ranging from pesticides to lead paint – have been diverted from waste disposal sites throughout the province.
Specific dates and locations for this year’s household hazardous waste collection events will be advertised in participating communities. A complete schedule of events, permanent depot locations and a detailed list of materials accepted through the program are also available on MMSB’s web site at www.mmsb.nl.ca .
MMSB Full Day Events:
| Corner Brook | June 22 |
| Happy Valley Goose Bay | September 14 |
| Corner Brook | November 2 |
MMSB Half Day Events in partnership with Volunteer Fire Departments:
| Baie Verte | June 8 |
| Burgeo | June 22 |
| Fortune/Grand Bank | May 25 |
| Harbour Breton | June 8 |
| La Scie | June 8 |
| Lethbridge and Area | June 1 |
| Marystown | May 25 |
| Pasadena | June 22 |
| St. Lawrence | May 25 |
| Rocky Harbour | June 22 |
| Trinity Bay North | June 1 |
2013 05 22 1:35 p.m.