In a lifetime, the average North American will throw away 600 times his or her adult weight in garbage. A 68 kg adult will leave a legacy of 40,825 kg of trash.
(Natural Resources Canada)
Waste Reduction Week takes place in communities all across Canada during the third week of October. The goal of Waste Reduction Week is to educate and inspire everyone to reduce waste and save resources using the six R's: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle. Here’s the scoop on all of the activities offered during the week by the City of Thunder Bay Transportation & Works Department, EcoSuperior and our community partners:
- Waste Reduction & Recycling Info Fair
- School Programs
- Radio Promotions & Get Caught Recycling Contest
- Composter Delivery Service
- Free Tours
- Erase Your Waste Workplace Contest
- Household Hazardous Waste Depot
- The Great Pumpkin Compost Collection
- Thunder Bay's Green Guide
Waste Reduction and Recycling Fair
Join the City of Thunder Bay, EcoSuperior, and Confederation College Waste Management students at Intercity Shopping Centre for this information fair on Saturday, October 13th. Learn what you can do to reduce your "waste-line" at this interactive and educational event. Bring your questions, pick up some giveaways, and enter a draw for great prizes! Find us in the promo court between 9:30 am and 6 pm.
School Programs
EcoSuperior and Lakehead University Education students will be visiting classrooms during Waste Reduction Week. These fun and interactive presentations will help students learn the importance of re-using, reducing and recycling. A limited number of schools that tour the Solid Waste & Recycling Facility and/or ReCool Canada's recycling plant will receive free busing! We also have lots of great activities, lesson plans and other resources for educators, including our Green School Recycling & Composting Manuals. Call Jennifer at 624-2147 for more information, to book presentations, and to arrange tours.
Radio Promotions & Get Caught Recycling
Stay tuned to your favourite local radio stations for a chance to flaunt your waste reduction knowledge and win great prizes. More prizes are up for grabs if one of our volunteers catches you in the act of recycling around town. You never know who might be watching!
Composter Delivery Service
Take advantage of our complimentary composter delivery service offered exclusively during Waste Reduction Week! Call EcoSuperior at 624-2141 to reserve a composter and enjoy free, to-your-doorstep delivery between Oct. 15 and 19 at 624-2141 to reserve a composter and enjoy free, to-your-doorstep delivery! Composters are $25.00, payable by credit card over the phone or at time of delivery by cheque or cash (exact change only please!). We’ll include all the information you need to get started.
Public Tour of the Solid Waste & Recycling Facility
Don’t miss the opportunity to tour the Solid Waste & Recycling Facility on Wednesday, October 17th. We’ll even provide the transportation. The tour will run from 1:00-2:30pm, including travel time and is free of charge. Call 624-2141 for pick-up locations and to reserve your seat, as space is limited!
Public Tour of the Recycling Plant
You may have heard rumours that recyclables collected end up at the landfill—it’s time to prove them wrong! Witness behind the scenes at ReCool Canada’s recycling facility on Tuesday, October 16. We’ll take care of the transportation. The tour will run from 9:30am-11:00am, including the drive and is free of charge. Call 624-2141 for pick-up locations and to reserve your seat.
Erase Your Waste Workplace Challenge
Out-green the competition and start reducing waste at work! Commit to one waste reduction initiative and submit a brief summary to us (with pictures if possible!) by October 21. Participating workplaces will be entered in a draw to win a litterless lunch catered to their office for up to 20 people! Not sure how to get started? You could bring in reusable mugs, water bottles, and containers for lunches, start printing double sided, start a recycling or vermicomposting program, or host a workplace swap (ie. books, cloths, etc.). Feel free to get creative!
Household Hazardous Waste Depot
Don’t throw that hazardous waste away! The Household Hazardous Waste Depot at the City of Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Facility is free of charge for city residents. You can drop off items all year round, including paints, cleaners, batteries, fertilizers, medicines and more. Call 684-2195 for additional info.
Great Pumpkin Compost Collection
When you think of Halloween, all sorts of fun and spooky things come to mind: trick or treating, creative costumes, and Jack-o-Lanterns of course! When the Halloween fun is done, remember to put Jack in the Box, not in the trash. Since the collection began in 1995, over 276 metric tonnes of pumpkins have been diverted from the landfill to the municipal composting facility. Bins for Halloween Pumpkins will be set up from November 1-12 at the Lakehead Labour Centre, County Fair Plaza and the Westfort Playfield. Remember — no plastic bags, no candles, and no trash — pumpkins only please! Sponsored by ReCool Canada and Print Pros Plus.
Don't forget to check out Thunder Bay's "Green Guide"
Ever wonder what to do with old computers, printer cartridges, or other items that you no longer have use for, but you know don't belong in the landfill? Check out this comprehensive guide for local recycling and re-use solutions. It is available on-line here, or pick up a hard copy at the Thunder Bay Public Library or EcoSuperior office.
Visit Waste Reduction Week Canada to find out more about the national campaign and for lots of great resources.
This Waste Reduction Week program is funded by the City of Thunder Bay Infrastructure & Operations Department and delivered by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs. We would also like to thank Waste Reduction Week sponsors: ReCool Canada, Inc., Intercity Shopping Centre, and Print Pros Plus.
For more information on any of these activities call Jessica at 624-2142.
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Page last updated on Monday, September 24, 2012
