October 21, 2003
Conservation Minister Steve Ashton today encouraged Manitobans to increase their recycling and waste reduction efforts and announced over $283,000 in Waste Reduction And Pollution Prevention (WRAPP) grants as he proclaimed Waste Reduction Week in Manitoba Oct. 20 to 26.
"It is important that individuals, businesses and communities continue efforts to send less material to landfills," said Ashton. "From the sturdy blue boxes and bins to more creative and scientific approaches to waste reduction, we must continue the effort."
Ashton also released a report on a $240,000 pilot electronics recycling project organized by the non-profit charitable group the Thomas Sill Foundation and supported with a $50,000 grant from the province’s Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (SDIF).
The pilot project set up depots over a weekend in October 2002 and processed 93.5 tonnes of consumer electronic waste. The Electronic Product Stewardship Organization of Manitoba (EPSOM) was able to recycle or find uses for most of the electronics.
"This is an example of a highly successful partnership of non-profit, government and private organizations," said Ashton. "It is estimated that Manitobans will be tossing away more than 5,000 tonnes of waste electronics by the year 2005. It is important that we find ways to keep these products out of our landfills and out of our environment. This report provides valuable information for the long-term management of e-waste."
EPSOM diverted from landfills electronic equipment containing an estimated 5,861 kilograms of lead, eight kilograms of cadmium and two kilograms of mercury. EPSOM calculates that TV picture tubes and computer monitors alone contained 1,439 kilograms of lead.
The EPSOM report is available online at a new Web site launched today by Resource Conservation Manitoba (RCM). The Web site is part of a provincewide effort to encourage waste reduction and increase recycling. Manitobans can access the new Web site at http://www.mb.reducingwaste.ca and find information for residential, commercial and industrial sectors in Manitoba including:
The minister noted that RCM received $25,000 from the province’s WRAPP Fund to assist with development of the Web site.
The minister also announced $283,650 in grants through WRAPP.
The fund supports improved waste reduction and pollution prevention practices in Manitoba. Priority areas are organic waste management and composting, construction and demolition waste management, pollution prevention and model integrated waste management system development and planning.
WRAPP is a targeted funding program under the SDIF. Other targeted funding programs are the Environmental Youth Corps (EYC) Program and the Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund (MCCAF).
Ninety-seven projects totaling $1.5 million have been supported through the WRAPP Fund since its creation in 2000.
Information on WRAPP is available upon request from Manitoba Conservation’s Pollution Prevention Branch or online at http://www.susdev.gov.mb.ca.
Since 1996, Manitobans have recycled over 276,000 tonnes of material, equal to over 39,000 garbage trucks full of recyclable materials. Manitobans have recycled over 8.5 million tires since 1995. There are 48 used oil Ecocentres across Manitoba which have provided a safe way to recycle over 62.2 million litres of used oil, 7.5 million oil filters and 674,529 kilograms of oil containers.
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WRAPP PROJECTS LIST.
PROJECTS RECENTLY FUNDED THROUGH
THE WASTE REDUCTION AND POLLUTION PREVENTION FUND.
Midwest Food Products Inc. - $25,000 to examine ways of recovering potato processing waste at Midwest’s plant in Carberry. The process byproduct may be recycled for animal feed and odours in the community will be reduced.
Town of Swan River - $10,000 will help establish a recycling depot and materials distribution centre at the Swan River landfill site. Recyclable and compostable materials will be intercepted and diverted from the landfill.
Rural Municipality of Roblin - $3,000 will assist to establish a curbside blue box recycling program for residents and cottage owners at the South West Rock Lake Resort area in the RM of Roblin. Collection bins will also be installed for the campers and day users of the park.
Rural Municipality of Piney - $10,000 will help establish seven recycling bins at five waste disposal sites that are managed by the Rural Municipality of Piney. Recycling services will be contracted to Eastman Recycling Services in Steinbach for a five-year period. The project will help the RM divert material from its landfills and re-evaluate the need to maintain five waste disposal sites.
Lumberlovers Pallet and Wood Recycling - $6,500 will help encourage the manufacturing of wood compost bins from wood waste diverted from the City of Winnipeg’s Brady Road Landfill
Wawanesa Lions Club - $400 will help build a small recycling drop-off site for campers at the Wawanesa Lions Campground to collect paper, aluminum and glass containers as well as plastic bottles.
Town of Gillam - $15,000 will provide additional recycling bins to local schools and organizations, purchase a recycling trailer and help increase awareness and educate residents about recycling. The Town of Gillam is a partner in the Thompson Regional Recycling Network Project.
Fort Whyte Centre - $9,550 will allow the Fort Whyte Centre to create a composting program that brings all on-site organic waste full circle through the waste cycle. Educating visitors on composting and its benefits is also a major component of this project. The program has a significant opportunity to educate individuals on composting issues as the Fort Whyte Centre receives 110,000 visitors annually.
Wabowden Community Council - $15,000 to start a curbside recycling program and start the construction of recycling depots in Wabowden. The project includes plans for a mini-recycling centre to handle standard recyclables as well as a depot for the collection of used oil, oil filters and oil containers.
Town of Altona - $15,000 to support a project turning local leaf and yard waste compost into usable products for community parks and general landscaping.
City of Winnipeg - $25,000 for a project selling Earth Machine composters in Winnipeg at a subsidized price of $25 each. Portage la Prairie and Selkirk will receive 200 composters to distribute to their residents.
Thompson Boys and Girls Clubs - $24,000 for a composting program transforming 120 tonnes of fish waste into usable compost. A forced aerated windrow composting system will be used at the Wabowden landfill to blend fish wastes with sawdust and wood chips. An estimated 240 tonnes of composted material can be created from this project.
Town of Russell - $10,000 to expand and upgrade an existing recycling facility allowing the two neighbouring municipalities of Shellmouth-Boulton and Silver Creek to become involved in the Russell-Binscarth Recycling Program.
Rural Municipality of Woodlands - $5,000 for four recycling depots at the Argyle Waste Disposal Grounds. The project also involves adding four recycling depots to existing recycling facilities at the RM of Woodlands waste disposal grounds.
Resource Conservation Manitoba - $45,000 to help the organization expand on Compost Action 2003, promoting and advertising services such as public backyard composting strategy and workshops, maintaining demonstration sites and continuing outreach programs throughout the province.
Eastman Recycling Services - $15,000 to expand the regional recycling facility capacity through the purchase of a skidder tractor for moving loose materials. The improved facility is projected to increase volume by at least 25 metric tonnes per month.
Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association - $15,000 to develop a standard pesticide management system for non-agricultural applications in Manitoba.
Town of Melita - $25,000 to establish a regional recycling facility in southwestern Manitoba that will service three towns and four rural municipalities. The project will aim to increase the recycling rate from 15 kg per person to 50 kg per person.
The Pas and Area Recycling (in partnership with Manitoba Conservation) - $10,200 will enhance the recycling programs for the Bakers Narrows Park District and the Clearwater Lake Park District with two recycling trailers purchased in partnership with The Pas and Area Recycling.
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