March 03, 2004

Conservation Minister Stan Struthers has announced over $103,000 in Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention (WRAPP) grants for seven projects across Manitoba.

"We need to continue efforts to divert materials from landfills," said Struthers. "The WRAPP initiative assists many communities and businesses to turn creative ideas into working projects that help to reduce waste."

Projects funded in this round include:

• enhancement of northern community waste management systems;
• redevelopment of three vacant buildings in Winnipeg’s Exchange District using salvaged building materials;
• research into composting for beef and dairy producers;
• development of a waste transfer unit for the City of Steinbach; and
• evaluation of options for managing liquid waste collected at landfills.

The Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention 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.

The WRAPP Fund is a targeted funding program under the Sustainable Development Innovations Fund. Other targeted funding programs are the Environmental Youth Corps Program and the Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund.

A total of 106 projects, totalling $1,734,845 million, have been supported through the WRAPP Fund since its creation in 2000.

Since 1996, Manitobans have recycled over 276,000 tonnes of material—over 39,000 garbage trucks full of recyclable materials. Manitobans have recycled over 8.5 million tires since 1995. There are 53 used oil Ecocentres across Manitoba which have provided a safe way to recycle over 57.5 million litres of used oil, 6.8 million oil filters and 617,00 kilograms of oil containers.

Information on the WRAPP Fund is available upon request from Manitoba Conservation, Pollution Prevention Branch, or online at: http://www.susdev.gov.mb.ca

Churchill waste management recycling/transfer station - $7,050 to examine ways of building and operating a cost-effective waste transfer station in Churchill, including an efficient method of loading rail cars and collecting reusable construction materials.

Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources - $20,000 for a project to redevelop the former Salvation Army recreation building and two other vacant buildings in Winnipeg’s Exchange District with salvaged building materials to be used in the reconstruction project. The funding will help establish a new protocol for building deconstruction and salvage in Manitoba. The centre, in partnership with Manitoba Transportation and Government Services, intends to create a facility with very low operating costs and to become one of Canada’s greenest retrofit heritage buildings.

Town of Leaf Rapids recycling program implementation - $15,000 to assist with the implementation of a waste diversion strategy for Leaf Rapids involving a residential curb-side pickup program and a commercial recycling service. Used oil, tires and scrap metal collection programs will be developed along with a small recycling centre.

City of Winnipeg Water and Waste Department - $16,500 to help the city identify alternatives to disposing of liquid waste collected at landfills through water pollution control centres. A list of suitable practices will be developed for use by Winnipeg and other landfill operators. A review of leachate production in Winnipeg facilities will be conducted. A recent Clean Environment Commission hearing recommended an end to leachate disposal at Winnipeg water pollution control centres.

University of Manitoba - $25,000 to help researchers determine the best methods for disposing of dead animals on beef and dairy operations in Manitoba. A two-year composting trial will be conducted on four cattle farms. From this research, a simple, low-cost composting protocol will be devised for cattle producers and will include a demonstration of the composting system. All project activities will be carried out with the participation of Manitoba Agriculture and Food, and Manitoba Conservation.

City of Steinbach waste transfer unit - $10,000 to help the City of Steinbach develop a six-bin waste transfer unit to more effectively separate and manage recyclable and compostable material. Usable compost will be applied to the city’s planting and cultivated areas and offered to residents. This project will serve the rural municipalities of LaBroquerie, Ste. Anne and Hanover, the Town of Ste. Anne and the City of Steinbach.

Town of Gladstone recycling facility upgrade - $10,000 to assist Gladstone expand its existing recycling facility into a building donated by Agricore United Ltd. The project also involves the purchase of equipment to streamline recycling operations. Neighbouring communities have expressed an interest in participating in the improved system.