Health News For South West


Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
Make A Difference During Waste Reduction Week

Help Divert Waste From Landfills

The province is marking Waste Reduction Week - which runs from October 19 to 23 - by encouraging the people of Ontario and businesses to help reduce the nearly nine million tonnes of waste sent to landfill each year.

Ontarians have access to a number of programs to reduce the amount of waste that is placed in the garbage:

  • The Blue Box Program accepts various types of glass, metal, plastic, and paper, including beverage containers, such as water bottles and soft drink containers.
  • The Ontario Deposit Return Program encourages the diversion of wine and spirit containers from landfill by providing a refund for the return of empty beverage alcohol containers for recycling.
  • The Electronic Waste Program collects 44 types of electronics, including desktop and portable computers, printers, televisions, copiers, telephones and cell phones.
  • The Ontario PaintRecycle Program accepts unused paint through a number of collection sites, including retail locations. Empty paint containers can be placed in the Blue Box.
  • The Used Tire Program recycles all old tires rather than using up valuable landfill space.

Other programs to recycle, reuse and safely dispose of common household items include:

  • The Gimme5Program which accepts used water filters. Plastic from water filters is made into new products, such as re-usable tableware.
  • The Switch the 'Stat program which collects older thermostats containing mercury. Switching to newer, energy-efficient thermostats is safer for human health and the environment.

Most pharmacies accept returned pharmaceutical, homeopathic and herb-based remedies and syringes for safe disposal.
 
Quick Facts:
 
  • In a year, Ontario generates enough waste to fill the Roger's Centre 15 times.
  • Approximately nine million tonnes of waste is sent to landfill each year.
  • On average, each person in the province generates about 900 kg of waste per year, enough to fit into 25 large garbage bags. Only 226 kg per person, or six large garbage bags, is diverted from landfill.
  • Every year in Canada, an estimated $1 billion in valuable resources is sent to landfill.
 
Additional Resources:

 
Quotes:
 
"Waste Reduction Week reminds us that Ontarians are taking action every day to reduce, reuse or recycle items rather than throwing them in the garbage. By consciously reducing waste, especially food and other organic waste, we lower greenhouse gas emissions and help prevent valuable resources from ending up in our landfills. And, by reusing and recycling we circulate resources back into the economy."
 
— Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

Media Contacts:

David Mullock
Minister’s Office
416-212-7307
david.mullock@ontario.ca

Kate Jordan
Communications
416-314-6666
kate.jordan@ontario.ca

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