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Annual Report


                                                2008 Annual Report

2008 was another banner year for the ZWATeam. In October, 2008 the ZWATeam  was presented with a 2008 SOLEC Award from Environment Canada and the United States EPA for “exceptional performance and dedication to improving the Great Lakes” for our electronic waste pilot project. This project created local e-waste recycling infrastructure and resulted in the establishment of the Pack Pros E-Waste Collection Depot. More than 400,000 pounds of e-waste have been diverted from landfill through the Depot since 2004 and Thunder Bay and region are well positioned for the launch of Ontario’s Electronic Waste Program in 2009. The ZWATeam looks forward to continuing our work with the City and our other Community Partners to ensure that Thunder Bay is a healthy, sustainable community in the long-term.

 

 

2008/2009 ZWATeam Executive

Chairperson Patrick Fenlon, Pack Pros Plus and Freight Managers Inc.

Vice-Chairperson Randy Mehagan, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Administration/Community Relations, Janice Horgos, Honourary Member

Treasurer Lynne LeGros, Apple Credit Union

Membership Cathy Sawicki, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Past-Chairperson Lynn Duffield, Abitibi Bowater

Honourary Member Lenore Buzzi, Chair of the Municipal Green Award Committee

Ex Officio Bill Deadman, Arclin

2008 ZWATeam Advisors (non-voting members)

Rebecca Johnson, Thunder Bay City Councillor

Vanessa DeGiacomo, Landfill and Recycling Analyst, CTB Roads Div.

Bernie Edwards, Manager of Administrative Services, CTB Facilities and Fleet Services

Dave Hardick and Mary Nucci, CTB Materials Management

Sarah Kerton, EarthWise Thunder Bay CEAP Co-ordinator

Wim Smits, Senior Environmental Officer, Ministry of the Environment

The ZWATeam is an EarthWise Thunder Bay and an EcoSuperior Community Partner and a member of the Ontario Zero Waste Coalition, Ontario Environment Network and the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition.  Information about the ZWATeam and Zero Waste is available on our Website at www.zwat.org.

2008 ZWATeam Activities and Accomplishments

  • Actively participated on the EarthWise Thunder Bay Community Environmental Action Plan Steering Committee and in the Solid Waste, Education and Community Greening/Commuter Trails Working Groups

  • Partnered with the City of Thunder Bay to present 2007 Municipal Green Awards to Dawson Properties, Mascarin Collision Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

  • Presented a ZWATeam Local Zero Hero Award to Bombardier Transportation for its exceptional efforts to eliminate waste and manage resources

  • Provided ZWATeam display and “Zero Waste: Good for the Environment - Great for Business” break-out session at Confederation College’s Green EcoConference

  • Joined the Ontario Zero Waste Coalition formed in May, 2008 to lobby governments to adopt a goal of Zero Waste; provided input on the Province’s proposed new Waste Diversion Act with a focus on Zero Waste and Extended Producer Responsibility

  • Participated in City’s annual Spring Up to Clean Up Event

  • Updated ZWATeam’s Construction/Demolition Waste Handling Guide with assistance from CTB Planning and Building Div. and Habitat for Humanity Restore

  • Developed Food Services Waste Handling Guide with assistance from Dietary Catering Supervisor at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

  • Gave Zero Waste presentation to Leadership Thunder Bay participants

  • Sponsored a boulevard tree through the Thunder Bay Tree Stewardship Program

  • Sponsored and participated in the Current River Ward’s annual tree planting event at Boulevard Lake

  • Helped organize and participated in the first annual Lake Superior Day Community Celebration at Marina Park

  • Assisted festival and event organizers to hold litter free green events. (Current River Winter Carnival, Dragon Boat Festival) 

  • Took the lead in forming the Plastic Bag Reduction Committee to build on EcoSuperior and the ZWATeam’s “Take An Old Bag Shopping” campaign and  promote a 50% reduction in the use of plastic shopping bags in Thunder Bay; the Committee issued a Community Challenge to only use reusable bags when shopping during Environment Week; organized a Waste Reduction Week Information Fair at Intercity Shopping Centre and recruited sponsors for reusable and blue bags and a copy of the City’s Mr. Green Guide for 2600 Christmas Cheer Hampers

  • Joined the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce as a Reciprocal Member; participated in After Business Events and provided monthly newsletter articles

  • Celebrated Waste Reduction Week with the City, EcoSuperior and EarthWise Thunder Bay

  • Participated in the Superior Renewable Energy Co-op EnergyWise Tour

 

Educational Presentations and Facility Tours

January, 2008

Host: St. Joseph's Care Group

Presentations: Update on St. Joseph Care Group’s Green Initiatives, Glenn Berst, Building Manager

Green Building Practices and LEED Standards, John Stephenson, KSGM ArchitectBeyond Borders’ Magnetic Windows, Roger WelykiEcoSuperior’s Power Savers Program, Bill Bradshaw

March, 2008

Host: Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Presentations: Waste Management Practices in the Food Industry by Cathy Sawicki, TBRHSC IC&I Sector Compliance with Ontario’s 3Rs Waste Regulations, Wim Smits, MOE

Bio-degradable plastic bags-Brian Perigord, Boreal Solutions

May, 2008

Host: Bare Point Water Treatment Plant

Tour and Presentations: Update on CTB water initiatives, Jim Vukmanich, Chief Chemist, Env. Div. Well Aware Program, Jane Oldale, EcoSuperior Safe Disposal of Out-of-date Pharmaceuticals, Lucie Lavoie, EcoSuperior

Bottleless Water Coolers, Jim Bell, Aqua Care Thunder Bay

September, 2008

Host: MGM Electric

Presentations: Fluorescent Light and Battery Recycling Programs, Tom Chadwick, MGM Electric Sustainable Environmental Ethical Purchasing Policies, Dan Munshaw, General Manager Materials Management, CTB; “Zero Waste: Mission Possible” Patrick Fenlon and Janice Horgos, ZWATeam 

November, 2008

Host: Confederation College

Presentations

Update on College’s “Go Green” Program, Brian Campbell, Resources and Development Officer; Michael Pringle, Honeywell

Thunder Bay Hydro/OPG’s Energy Efficiency Program for Small Businesses, Frank Oostveen, TB Hydro

DTP’s Litter Prevention Program, Jason Mckee and Greg Smith, DTP

2008/09 Zero Waste Action Team of Thunder Bay Members

Abitibi Bowater

Apple Credit Union

Arclin

Aqua Care Thunder Bay

Beyond Borders

BFI Canada

Bombardier Transportation

Boreal Solutions

Coca Cola

Confederation College

Cook Engineering

Dawson Court Home for the Aged

EcoSuperior Environmental Programs

Ecole de LaVerendrye

Frank’s Alternate Energy

Grandview Lodge Home for the Aged

Habitat for Humanity Restore

Intercity Shopping Centre

Kuch Stephenson Gibson Malo Architects

Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship 

Lakehead University

Lakehead Public School Board

Liquor Control Board of Ontario Thunder Bay Warehouse

Lowerys Basics

OLG Casino Thunder Bay

Ontario Power Generation Thunder Bay Generating Station

MGM Electric

Pack Pros Plus

PARO

Recool Canada

St. Joseph’s Care Group

Steen Property Management

Superior Credit Union

Sysco Food Services of Ontario

Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board

Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce

Thunder Bay Public Library

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Valhalla Inn

Victoria Inn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ZWATeam will provide presentations to members of the IC&I sector, schools  and community organizations on Zero Waste and setting up Waste Management Programs with an emphasis on reducing and eliminating waste. The ZWATeam will assist festival and event organizers to plan litter free green events. For more info contact Janice at zwatcentral@yahoo.

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