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Shopping Bag Contest Winners
Congratulations to the two recent winners of the "Take An Old Bag Shopping" contest Peter Raffo and Linda Aho. Photograph: Peter Raffo (centre) at the Quality Market Centennial Square, with Manager Dave Stezenko and EcoSuperior's Ellen Mortfield. Click here to see the new commercial featuring Ivanka, the ultimate shopping queen of Slobjev, and her solution to the plastic shopping bag issue! Next time you need groceries, don’t forget your old bags!
Check out the photograph of the winner:
http://www.zwat.ca/media/shoppingbagcontest1.jpg
The Story Of Stuff
A great video about all the "stuff" we tend to collect and the environmental impact of our insatiable desire for "stuff." Check it out at:
Congratulations from MP Ken Boshcoff
On behalf of MP Ken Boshcoff and the constituents in the Federal Riding of Thunder Bay-Rainy River, Cindy Green presented the ZWATeam with a plaque of congratulations at the ZWATeam's Nov.21, 2007 Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration.
Award from City of Thunder Bay
The ZWATeam was presented with a plaque recognizing its "Environmental Leadership and Dedication to Community Sustainability" by Mayor Peterson at the November 26 City Council meeting.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22653802@N02/2210221594/
St. Patrick's High School Waste Audit
Donald Grant, Vice-Principal of St. Patrick's High School invited Jane Oldale of EcoSuperior and Janice Horgos of the ZWATeam to attend the school's first waste audit on December 14th. Students collected 60 bags of garbage at 12:30 pm and separated the waste into a variety of categories; plastics, paper, metal, food packaging, wasted food and "others". They then counted the recyclables in order to establish a benchmark against which the school's 2008 Recycling Campaign can be measured. Congratulations to Mr. Grant and all the students and staff at St. Patrick's High School for their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint!
Green Drinks
Join us after the ZWATeam meeting for Green Drinks on Wednesday, January 16 at 5pm at Lot 66 on Algoma St.
People working towards a healthier environment in 350 cities around the world enjoy drinks, snacks and lively conversation at monthly "Green Drinks." Green Drinks are held at 5pm on the third Wednesday of each week in Thunder Bay.
Check out photos of a recent "Green Drinks" event:
Fifteenth Anniversary Presentations
Click on the following link to view presentations about:
-Thunder Bay's Zero Waste Action Team
-EcoSuperior
-The community environmental action plan for Thunder Bay, Earthwise
-Progressive efforts by the City of Thunder Bay to address waste management issues.
These presentations were made at the ZWAT 15th anniversay meeting on November 21st, 2007.
Report Abandoned Shopping Carts
Litter Free Thunder Bay Online Reporting System For Abandoned Shopping Carts
Abandoned shopping carts are a real eyesore on Thunder Bay's streets. Additionally, they cost local businesses (and in turn you and I) thousands of dollars to repair and replace.
Litter Free Thunder Bay has set up an electronic shopping cart reporting system. If you notice an abandoned cart while driving to work or around town, please take the time to report its location. The system is extremely simple and only takes a few seconds to utilize. Local retail outlets which make use of carts have been made aware of the system and carts will be collected by these retailers or their contractors. Litter Free Thunder Bay volunteers do not collect the carts.
Help us keep our city streets clean. Click the link below to proceed to Litter Free Thunder Bay's online reporting system.
Photos Of ZWAT'S 15th Anniversary Party
ZWAT'S 15th anniversary, held on Wednesday, November 21st at the City of Thunder Bay's Dawson Court Facility was a great event and was extremely well attended. Check out photos by clicking the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/gp/8564824@N05/b25Pk8
(Click "View As Slideshow" towards top right of new page.)
Union Gas Recognizes LU
Congratulations from ZWAT to Lakehead University. LU Received $72,000 from Union Gas in recognition of the school's energy saving agenda in its facility renewal project. Buildings on the campus have had upgrades to their heating systems and inisultation and have seen a 40 percent reduction in energy consumption. The money was granted through Union Gas's Energywise Program which promotes efficient natural gas usage among large commercial customers.
2008 Municipal Green Award Application
The Zero Waste Action Team and the City of Thunder Bay are calling for applications for the 2008 Municipal Green Award.
The Award will serve as an incentive, and recognize the successful waste reduction initiatives of individuals, businesses or organizations within Thunder Bay.
For more information and an application. Click Here. (Please be patient, the application form - in Microsoft 'Word' format - will take some time to download.)
Green Award Photos and Winners from 2006 are as follows:
MGM Electric's goal was to recycle all paper and cardboard products within their daily operations. They set up cardboard recycling bins and each employee was provided with a blue bin at their desk to capture fine paper. MGM continues to reduce its impact on the environment through the use of energy efficient lighting, fluorescent light recycling and heat saving initiatives in its warehouse.
TBRHSC's goal was to reduce volumes of waste sent to landfill based on 2005 totals. They implemented alkaline and button battery, fluorescent light and metal recycling on site. They increased their use of reusables in the cafeteria and added more recycling containers throughout the facility. There is ongoing education for customers on what is being done to reduce waste and how much more can be done. An environmental concern section was added to their tendering process to reduce packaging and to ensure materials are recycled responsibly. There is inhouse shredding for fine paper, and the TBRHSC has provided reuse opportunities for other countries and non-profit organizations.
The Valhalla Inn's goal was to reduce waste going to landfill by 9% in addition to the 13.5% waste reduction achieved in 2005. A staff education program was established to ensure support for waste reduction progranms. The hotel purchases in bulk and recycles cardboard, newsprint, fine paper, plastics #1 and #2, and aluminum cans. There is a blue box recycling rpogram in each hotel room and a reuse linen program as well as numerous energy conservation initiatives.
The Victoria Inn's goal was to reduce waste going to landfill by 10%. A recycling program was initiated in all guest rooms, restaurants, banquet facilities and bar. Cardboard, newsprint, fine paper, plastic #1 and #2, tin, glass and aluminum was diverted from landfill.
ZWAT congratulates all the 2005 Municipal Award Winners for meeting their goals and for being great environmental stewards!
Garbage Dumpers Caught
Today, Anishinabek of the Gitchi Gami Citizens Council member Eugene Bannon caught non-Fort William First Nation citizens trying to dump garbage on our community. Listen to his story in this podcast. Fort William First Nation has a bylaw that is supposed to prevent non-community members from dumping any waste on our land. However, the bylaw does not prevent community members from dumping their waste. This not only has resulted in an un-engineered dumpsite called the 'Squaw Bay Road Dump' where waste is burned frequently; it has also created a loop-hole where community members let their friends (or people who pay them) dump garbage on Fort William First Nation for free. By doing this, garbage dumpers avoid paying $5 to dispose of garbage properly at the City of Thunder Bay Landfill, but the health of our community members is being compromised as these wastes are burned in vandal fires at the Squaw Bay Road Dump on a daily basis. Courtesy of Anishinabek of the Gitchi Gami Podcasts Read Full Story and Hear Podcast at: http://agg-podcasts.blogspot.com/
