NEAT - Converting awareness into action

May is Tire Month for NEAT

Tammy Hrab — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:54:44 +0000

NEAT has been focussing on a different steward for each month of this year. Tire Stewardship BC is our feature steward for the month of May.

Tires are among those things that get left in the ditches, along the back fence, or they pile up in the garage because no one really knows what to do with them. No one wants to pay the fee at the landfill and the landfill doesn’t want them.

Tire Stewardship BC launched its scrap tire recycling program in January of 2007. By partnering with the tire retailers in British Columbia, they are able to provide drop off points for the residents of our community. Approximately 40,000 tonnes of tires are collected each year. 80% of the tires collected are recycled into other products. They remove the fibre and steel to create crumb rubber. Crump rubber can be used for walkways, playgrounds, running tracks and even blast mats in the oil and gas industry. The remaining 20% of the tires collected are used to help fuel the cement and pulp and paper industries.

Don’t let those old tires pile up. Recycle them and you never know, you may see them again in your neighbourhood.

For a complete list of drop off locations, go to www.tirestewardshipbc.ca.

May is Tire Month for NEAT

Compost Awareness Week

Sarah McKenzie — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:45:41 +0000

The Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT) is getting ready for Composting Awareness Week, May 6-12. This international annual event is a celebration of giving back to the Earth. NEAT will hold a compost workshop at the Dawson Creek Library on May 10th from 6-8pm to answer all of your burning questions about composting. There will also be workshops at the Community Garden Launch, "Spring Blooms", on May 12 at 9:30am and 11:30am at the North Peace Cultural Centre, and at the Farmer's Market at 10:30am.

Communities around the world are realizing that organic materials should be treated as resources rather than waste. Organic material comprises one third of our garbage and, considering our landfills are not eternal, more and more of us are choosing to compost.

What is composting? Well, composting is a natural process involving billions of microorganisms that breakdown organic material. All organic material will eventually decompose, but composting makes the process much faster. When we use a composter in our backyards, it artificially accelerates the decomposition process. The materials in the composter need to be high in carbon (the “brown” stuff like twigs and dried grass) mixed with materials that are high in nitrogen (the “green” stuff like kitchen waste). The finished product is a rich soil amendment that adds life to your soil. Adding compost to your soil will improve it, no matter what kind of soil you have.

Composting is easy. When you begin to think about the composting heap as being a living, dynamic entity, that’s when the fun begins! For other recycling and waste reduction information, call NEAT at 888-689-6328.

Compost Awareness Week

Compost Workshops

Karen Mason-Bennett — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:30:54 +0000

In celebration of Compost Awareness Week - May 7-13, 2012 - NEAT is hosting a series of compost workshops. Although it's a little early to be getting into the garden, those itching to encourage spring along, would still benefit from compost information.

Workshops are being held:

May 10th at the Dawson Creek Public Library from 6-8pm
May 12th at the North Peace Cultural Centre (FSJ) at 9:30 & 11:30
May 12th at the FSJ Farmer's Market at 10:30

Bring your questions!

Compost Workshops

RCBC's Recyclepedia App

Tammy Hrab — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:10:08 +0000

The Recycling Council of British Columbia (RCBC) is trying to make recycling even easier. If you have an IPhone or Android, you are an app away from having all of your recycling options at your fingertips.

Do you do your running around on the weekends? Most people do their large projects around their homes outside of typical business hours. NEAT is a great resource to call during the week, but the Waste Reduction Office isn't open on the weekend. If you have access to your computer, prrrdy.com has a great database, but it isn't the most user friendly on a smart phone (it does work, but it doesn't have a mobile option). RCBC has made it easier than ever to have those recycling options with you at all times. Just download the BC Recyclepedia app from your app store. Then, whether you need to recycle paint or prescriptions, your phone can tell you where to go.

We have been taking this application for a test run and it seems to be very easy to operate. The only thing that we noticed is that it does not give our recycling options outside of BC. There are some items that can be recycled in Grande Prairie, but the Recyclepedia will say that the closest place is in Prince George. That situation really only effects us in Northern BC, but we just wanted to point that out.

So, now that you have this new app, your spring cleaning will be even easier.

RCBC's Recyclepedia App

NEAT Friends Tell All

Tammy Hrab — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:46:03 +0000

I love my job. As part of the NEAT team, we have many friends in our communities. Because they know what we do, and how we feel about some personal practices in daily lives, they may hide their disposable coffee cup when they walk by or explain that they only idled their car for a few minutes. We never want people to revert back to the days of school where seeing NEAT staff and board makes the sudden guilt of their actions rise to the surface and erupt into heartfelt confessions.

While I hate that some people feel this need to confess or defend their actions, I love hearing about the proud moments when they made a change in their daily life that they are proud of. Here is one of those stories.

I walked down to one of our local establishments that doesn't mind if we bring the dishes back to the office and return them later. While waiting for my lunch order, I saw one of our NEAT friends. She was sitting and enjoying her lunch and invited me to sit down while I waited. Suddenly, she got this proud look of self-satisfaction on her face and told me she had to tell me what she did. I smiled, as I always do, and waited for the reveal. She told me about a place that she likes to go for soup and sandwich at lunch. She said that she always takes paper for them to wrap her sandwich in, but she feels bad taking the disposable bowl and plastic spoon they provide for the soup. She started using her own spoon, but she still had the bowl problem to solve. The last time she got soup, she asked how large the serving is. She wanted to let me know that she now has a bowl with a lid that she can take with her for her soup. She solved her litter lunch problem.

As I said, I love these stories. If she can work around her situation, so can you.

NEAT Friends Tell All

Happy Holidays for your friends at NEAT

Tammy Hrab — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:57:50 +0000

"It's A Prrrdy NEAT Christmas"

It was the night before Christmas and everything's "Green"
Prrrdy was proud of the ideas he had seen.

The lights were all hung on the tree with great care.
With new LED’s, there will be power to spare.

The tree was decked out, but no tinsel flinging.
Everyone used beads and popcorn for stringing.

Even the ornaments had an up-cycled twist.
Puzzle pieces, magazines . . . nothing was missed.

When Prrrdy looked down, no presents in "trash."
Wrapped in cloth bags, revived from last year's stash.

Re-use and up-cycle were the themes for this year.
Prrrdy squawked with delight at the "green" Christmas cheer.

Happy Holidays from NEAT and the Waste Reduction Office. We look forward to seeing and working with all of you in 2012.

Happy Holidays for your friends at NEAT

Post Holiday Tree Disposal

Tammy Hrab — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:30:55 +0000

Before everyone disappears for the holiday season, we just wanted to keep you up to date on the best ways to properly dispose of your fresh trees post December 25th.

If you live in the Peace River region, the municipalities have teamed up with charities to pick up trees or have made it convenient to properly dispose of trees in our area.

For more information on your area, check out prrrdy.com or call NEAT at 250-785-6328.

Post Holiday Tree Disposal

Retro, Vintage, Ecclectic...

Tammy Hrab — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:45:42 +0000

These are the words the "cool" kids use, but guess what? These are all words that can be used for items that are being "REUSED."

In honour of Waste Reduction Week, I went looking for ways to make "reuse" fresh and cool. In my travels, I visited Scoop Clothing in Fort St. John. They are a trendy little clothing store that would NEVER make recycling cross your mind, yet, they think about it all the time. They have taken reuse to a whole new level.

Where we see old records (came before cd's and dvd's), they see window treatments. Where we see old, hard sided suitcases, they see display opportunities. They have even made old ladders into something cool to hang scarves on.

The part I loved about my visit to Scoop is that you don't notice that they have "someone's junk" in their window. They were able to make those items look new, fresh, and cool. The records hang from the ceiling with a James Dean poster. The suitcases are used to hold delicates. They have even used the paint bucket shelf on the ladder to display jewelry. These ideas are fresh, simple, and anyone could take these ideas and adjust them to fit their needs.

It is never garbage until it is actually thrown away. Take another look. You could actually have something that is "retro."

Retro, Vintage, Ecclectic...

Thank you for Supporting NEAT

Tammy Hrab — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:22:37 +0000

We are wrapping up, and cleaning up after an amazing night at Wine & Trees. We had a great group of people and fun was had by all. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and the people that helped to make this evening happen.

Sponsors:

W.L. Construction, Alpha Controls, Focus Engineering

Auction Donors:

Rhonda Grimes with Silpada Jewellery, Jim Peltier, Jake & Stacy Peters, Caroline Bentley, Charnwood Creations, Ferris Fast Cycle, Ridge Rotors, Qwest Helicopters, Fort St. John Community Arts Council, Sheri Dressler, Angela Moody, artSpace, Just Plane Crazy, Lana Schallock, Shannon Butler, Quality Inn, JD Fitzgeralds, Twice the Shananigans Photography, Marc Joseph, Karen Mason-Bennett, Unforgettable Memories, The Hair Bin, the Hrab Family, Canadian Tire, Marcy's Bright Ideas, Inner Balance Massage & Yoga, and Jarrod Bell.

Other contributors include:

Hamilton Copiers, Systems by Trail, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church of the Resurrection, C. M. Finch School,Cliffside Printing, Lillies & Lavender, Rochelle Thomas, Jolene Laychuk, Sue Popesku, Sheri Dressler, Andre Bennett, and Brent Hodson.

We would also like to thank the members of our Board of Directors for their support through this whole adventure.

If you attended, it was great having you there. If you missed it, we hope to include you next year.

Thank you for supporting NEAT,
NEAT Staff

Thank you for Supporting NEAT

One Less Bag in Fort Nelson

Liz Biggar — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:21:11 +0000

Did you know that Fort Nelson used 57,805 bags in one week? That means 965 litres of oil were wasted to make plastic bags in Fort Nelson. Plastic bags are often only used for a few minutes as consumers carry their purchase from the store to their home, however they last for generations in our landfills. Fewer bags used means less oil wasted and less garbage in our landfill.

Many of the retailers in Fort Nelson are already making a difference, one bag at a time. True Value Hardware offers a free reusable bag with every $50 purchase. IGA, Northern, IDA Pharmacy and The Bargain Shop all have reusable bags for purchase as an alternative to plastic bags. Overwaitea customers receive 100 points for every cloth bag purchased and offer customers a variety of sizes, including insulated bags and totes. Cashiers at Overwaitea only bag large items if requested by the customer and ask all customers with smaller quantity purchases if they need a bag or would be fine without. Boondocks avoids plastic bags and offers 100% recycled brown Kraft bags and 100% post-consumer tissue paper to customers. The gift wrap service also uses brown paper rather than glossy paper with designs. Down to Earth Health Shoppe bags their customer purchases in biodegradable bags.

As a consumer, you have the opportunity to make a difference too. Start by dusting off those reusable bags in your closet or car trunk and bringing them to the grocery store. Add “reusable bags” to the top of your shopping list so you remember to grab them before you leave. If you do forget your reusable bags, ask the cashier to pack them as full as possible. Reuse those bags as many times as possible.

From August 21-27, using one less bag can further benefit our community! When you say no to a plastic bag, or bring your own bag, participating stores will make a donation to a local charity. Look for NEAT staff at local retailers, where we will be handing out free reusable bags. Let’s all do our part!! 

One Less Bag in Fort Nelson

We Want Your Thoughts

Liz Biggar — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:54:11 +0000

How do you feel about the recycling and waste disposal options in Fort Nelson? The Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT) and Northern Rockies Regional Municipality want your opinion! In an effort to gather more data, an online survey is being launched for both residents and businesses in Fort Nelson. This short thirty minute survey will not only aid in determining if recycling and waste disposal options should be expanded in Fort Nelson, but it also gives residents the chance to win great prizes!

Everyone is encouraged to fill out the survey, as it is important that the survey reflect as many living and working situations as possible.

This is a great way to let your voice be heard and to let them know what you really want.

Use the link below to fill out your survey and enter to win great prizes!

Residential:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9CKSLYM

Business:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZBGYWGD

If you have questions, call NEAT at 250-321-6328.

We Want Your Thoughts

A Week of Recycling at OSCARE

Tammy Hrab — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:52:17 +0000

The summer program at OSCARE in Fort St. John is taking action with the 3 R's this week. Cathy, a staff member for the school aged kids, has created an entire week of activities to get the kids involved in being "green."

The kids have been saving their recyclables for the last few months and today, they get to learn about the next step. The first place they are going is to the FSJ Bottle Drop. They will help sort and learn that these items can be returned and they can get money back. Cathy said the kids did not realize that they could get money back for their juice boxes. I think that may have gotten their attention.

While most people only think about recycling as the main "R", Cathy has not left out lessons in reuse. To raise money for the program, OSCARE is having a silent auction this week from items donated. These auction items were things that people received or bought and didn't use. And finally, on Friday, the kids are able to bring toys that they do not use anymore and put them into a garage sale. The kids will receive the money that their items earned.

They say that money talks. Maybe it will be the trick to creating the next generation of environmentally conscious consumers.

A Week of Recycling at OSCARE

Canning Recipes, as Promised

Tammy Hrab — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:55:46 +0000

Honey Spice Peaches

8 lbs peaches
1 cup sugar
4 cups water
2 cups honey
1.5 tsp whole allspice
3/4 tsp whole cloves
3 sticks cinnamon
3 - 32oz jars

1. Prep water canner.

2. Wash, peel and pit peaches. Cut into slices

3. Combine sugar, water and honey until sugar dissolves. Add peaches in syrup one layer at a time and cool for 3 minutes.

4. Pack peaches into hot jars leaving 1/2" head space. Add 1/2tsp allspice, 1/4 tsp cloves, and 1 cinnamon stick to each jar.

5. Ladle syrup, still leaving 1/2" head space.

6. Boil for 25 minutes + altitude adjustment (5 min).

Salsa

1 red onion
1 white onion
1 yellow onion
6lbs tomatoes, chopped
2 banana peppers
3 green bell peppers
3 - 6oz cans tomato paste
1/2 cup vinegar
3 Tbls lime juice
5-6 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp cumin
8 pint jars

1. Blanch and peel tomatoes.

2. chop all ingredients and place in collander for 1hr to drain excess moisture.

3. Boil 20 minutes with vinegar and lime juice.

4. Can leaving 1/4" head space.

5. Boil cans for 15 mins + altitude adjustment. (5 min)

Apple Rhubarb Jam

3 cups diced rhubarb
3 cups diced peeled apples (very small dice)
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 pack (2 oz) dry pectin
4 clean jars

1. Mix rhubarb, apples, water, and cinnamon. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes. Add pectin and boil for 5 minutes.

2. Ladle into sterile jars and boil for 10 minutes + altitude adjustment (5 min)

Spaghetti Sauce

20 lbs Roma Tomatoes
2 cups onions, diced
3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp basil
2 Tbsp chopped celery
3 Tbsp oregano
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp chopped red peppers
1/4 cup lemon juice (2 Tbsp/jar)

1. Blanch, peel, quarter, and remove liquid from tomatoes.

2. Boil down to desired consistency.

3. Put sauce in jars within 1/4" from top. Add lemon juice.

4. Boil 20 minutes/pint or 25 minutes/quart, plus 5 min for altitude adjustment.

Canning Recipes, as Promised

Come work with NEAT!

Tammy Hrab — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:57:51 +0000

NEAT is looking for a Community Outreach Representative in Fort St. John. If you are self-motivated and can take an idea and make it happen, you could be the perfect addition to our team.

For a full job description, check out our Career Section.

Don't hesitate. The deadline to apply is August 31, 2011. We hope to hear from you!

Come work with NEAT!

Small Actions, Big Results!

Karen Mason-Bennett — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:17:41 +0000

Have you ever had that "ah-ha" moment when you realize that for all the complications in life, it's often the simple solutions that work the best?

Kim Eglinski, owner of Boondocks Gifts in Fort Nelson has been making simple choices for the environment for years and has seen the positive results of those decisions first hand. Her ah-ha moment came over a decade ago when “the amount of stuff we were taking to the landfill was incredible. We still have a significant amount of stuff that goes into the landfill but at least we can say we are trying to [reduce] in other ways.”

Well before the trend, Boondocks Gifts traded in the plastic and opted for 100% recycled brown Kraft bags, adding 100% post-consumer tissue paper a few years after that. Simply asking customers if they want a bag has pleasantly surprised staff with the number of people declining. The gift wrap service available also uses brown paper rather than glossy paper with designs.

As part of a moonlight madness giveaway, one hundred reusable bags were given away. Eglinski says that “seeing the bags still being used almost 2 years later means that our customers care about the environment.”

Last year they began shredding all of their own paper for basket stuffing rather than ordering it in. This saves transportation costs and reduces the carbon footprint of this item tremendously.

Heating and cooling is done only when needed and when the store is occupied. If the store is warm enough, the furnace is turned off. Kim manually adjusts her thermostat each night, turning the heat down and back up in the morning to break the chill.

Additionally, Eglinski and Gold Fever owner Lorelei Purcka have combined shipping whenever possible to reduce both cost and carbon.

If you find yourself in Fort Nelson looking for packing materials, stop by Boondocks. They save extra shipping materials for customers so they don't have to purchase them new.

All of these easy day to day decisions culminate in a big savings for the environment and for Eglinski, a savings, she says it’s worth it.

Small Actions, Big Results!

Dish Detergents Decoded!

Karen Mason-Bennett — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:06:43 +0000

We had a question this week about petroleum based dish detergents, which sent me scouring the Internet! (No pun intended.) It took me a while, but I've got the answer and here it is:

All types of dish detergents use ingredients known as surfactants which help oil and water mix leaving you with clean dishes. Some of these surfactants are derived from petroleum and others are derived from plants such as the coconut. It can be argued that a surfactants’ effectiveness is directly related to the concentration within the detergent. For example, Brand A uses a higher concentration of surfactants which will clean better than Brand B using a lower concentration of surfactants regardless of whether they are petroleum or plant based. To choose a more environmentally friendly detergent, look for biodegradable or more natural oils such as coconut or canola.

Petroleum aside, some other things to watch for when evaluating the environmental impact of dish detergent is phosphates. Phosphates suspend food particles so they do not re-adhere to dishes while softening water so suds can form easily. Many people remember the mid-1960s when lakes and rivers were being choked by algae growth and remaining fish and wildlife stocks suffered. The reason for this was linked to the use of phosphates in laundry detergents which feed algae which then, in turn, depriving water of oxygen. Public pressure was successful in removing phosphates from laundry detergents, but many people do not realize that they are still utilized in many automated dish soaps. Both the EPA and Environment Canada have limited the use of phosphorus in dish washing detergents, but have not eliminated them entirely.

So how do you get your dishes clean without all the chemical cleaners, you ask! I have found that biodegradable liquid dish detergents are just as effective as the regular varieties for dishes by hand. Ensure you’ve got nice hot water and a good scraper and you’ll be cooking with gas, as my dad always said. The dishwasher is another story altogether, however. Choosing a phosphate free, plant-based detergent here often leaves us with those annoying white flecks on our dishes which lead you back to the beginning of this paragraph and washing a la main! Now I hate washing dishes almost as much as I hate that annoying white stuff, so I started experimenting (no small feat for someone who had a love/hate relationship with chemistry!). I found that adding a couple of tablespoons of plain white vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher – just pour it right in – helps a lot!

For more information on natural cleaners visit: http://www.prrrdy.com/live-green/green-cleaning

If you've got tips or tricks, drop us a line here, on Facebook or tweet @NEATfsj, we'd love to hear from you!

Dish Detergents Decoded!

Can You Eat Your Yard?

Tammy Hrab — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:28:44 +0000

I had this thought. I am a low maintenance girl and I really like it when the things around me are the same. I am always trying to figure out the easiest landscaping options that will still look good. I loved all of our flower beds when we moved into our house because they had been done in perennials, which come back every year with little help from me. That was perfect. We also had a large yard full of large trees. This created a park like setting, that once again, requires very little maintenance.

Since I do have a large yard, I started thinking again. What if I could also EAT what was growing in my yard. I am sure that thought makes most of you think about just having a garden. Not me! I think, WOW, that's a lot of time and work. We have started small this year. I wanted a Saskatoon bush and my daughter wanted raspberries. We are not enjoying their fruits yet, but it has gotten us started, no tiller required.

What else could I add to the mix? I grew up where honeysuckle grew along the fence lines and you could pick the flowers and suck out the nectar. It was a great treat during our PE classes when we were supposed to be playing softball. After growing up, I spent some time in Seattle, where blackberries grew like weeds. Anywhere you walked, there was a snack waiting to be picked and no one cared. I want to duplicate that feeling without resorting to laying in my grass and eating the ever present dandelion greens.

My next step is planting strawberries in my containers. I think I can manage to cover them with a net to keep the birds away. Step 2 is to add a couple of blueberry bushes to my collection. And Step 3 is that I am going to put a couple of potato plants in a coffee bean bag. These are all things that should be low maintenance and will provide locally grown foods that my family loves. Wish me luck.

Can You Eat Your Yard?

Upcycling

Tammy Hrab — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:03:26 +0000

"Upcycling" isn't one of the R's, but it would definitely fit into the reuse category. Most of the time, reuse refers to using something again, or using it for something else before sending it to the landfill. Some may think that using baby food jars for screws and passing along hand-me-downs covers it. Some may go farther by shopping at the thrift store or posting items in the classifieds. These are all great. Keep it up.

If your mind is always trying to come up with new ideas, upcycling is for you. As we get closer to "Kick-it To The Curb" this weekend (see Events for more details) keep "upcycling" in mind. According to Wkipedia, Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. See, that's simple.

Okay, maybe it's not that simple for everyone. We are surrounded by groups and individuals that we can borrow ideas from. Robert Ogilvie School upcycled by using dresser drawers and tires as planter boxes. @NEATfsj on Twitter has been giving tips on several different ways to use the wood from pallets to make things. Dave Tolley, a local musician, has taught kids how to create percussion sets out of old recyclables. The possibilities are endless.

Are you still at a loss for ideas? Don't feel bad. Go to your computer and search the word "upcycle." Long lists of ideas, pictures, and instructional videos are there for creative support. It could get your creative juices flowing enough to come up with your own ideas.

Now, take that to the next level. Use those ideas when you are exploring your community this weekend. What may be someone else's trash, could become your treasure. What looked like an old garbage can to them, could be a rain barrel to you. Old pallets could become vertical gardens. An old boot could even become a flower pot. Maybe something just needs a coat of paint, a new handle, or a couple of screws.

Get out there. Create that treasure and share it with us. We would love to hear about it!

Upcycling

Kick-it To The Curb is Coming

Tammy Hrab — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:32:08 +0000

It is time to take reuse to all corners of the Peace. We are about to remove all of your excuses. June 17-19 is the weekend to get it all out there. We want you to Kick-It to the Curb!

All you have to do is get it out the door and onto the curb. This is the weekend for a free exchange. Do you have items that you don't need anymore, but someone else could use them? Do you have things in your basement that you would like to get rid of, but you don't have a truck to take it to a donation location? Are there things that you need, but you don't need it to be brand new? This is the weekend for all of you.

All of the items that you put out on your curb are available for anyone else to take. We have removed all of your excuses not to get rid of the extra things taking up space in your house. I think I am going to put a hanging rack of clothes at my house.

We want to take this one step further. Do you facebook or twitter? Leave a comment on the NEAT facebook page. Tweet it with your town's hashtag. We are also using the hashtag of #kittc. You can also leave a comment on the neat.ca website. Tell us what your treasures are with an address for people to come look. NEAT staff will be going around tweeting different treasures we see and the addressest. All we ask is that any remaining items be removed from the curb at 4pm on Sunday.

Start looking through things around the house because it is time to Kick-It to the Curb!

Kick-it To The Curb is Coming

Brent's Challenge is Over?

Fri, 20 May 2011 16:43:24 +0000

My challenge is over, yet I feel it's just begun...

Man, I am so happy this challenge is over.. I can go back to using disposable cups now.

I am totally kidding.. I can’t believe its over. Looking back on the challenge, there have been a few great moments and few bad moments. Having the reusable cup and being seen around town made for some great conversations. I had people ask me about why I was doing it and how it was going.

In the past 4 weeks, I have estimated that I have not used around 70 cups. That's a lot. That's 70 cups that didn’t see the landfill. 70 cups that the store didn’t have to give out.

It was a great challenge, and I recommend you to do a similar challenge. Look at your life, look at what you're buying and what you are using. Is there something there you can give up for 30 days, is there something that you could use instead ? Is there a reusable option ? Is there a more green choice ?

My challenge may be over now, but I will keep up the challenge and idea for the rest of my life. I challenge you to do the same.

If everyone made one small change, could it change the world?

My answer is yes, it can change the world.

Brent's Challenge is Over?

Eco-Advisor in Dawson Creek

Tammy Hrab — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:20:56 +0000

Are you interested in making a difference in your community? This may be the opportunity you are looking for. NEAT is looking for an Eco-Advisor in Dawson Creek and area.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Eco-Advisor based in Dawson Creek, BC will report to the Program Coordinator. The Eco-Advisor will:
• Deliver educational presentations and workshops to community groups, schools and businesses on recycling, composting, water conservation, alternatives to household hazardous products, sustainability and other practical programs;
• Assist with the planning and implementation of environmental/conservation education programs;
• Research, develop and/or update of educational materials including power point presentations, brochures, articles and posters;
• Participate in community special events;
• Answer telephone, email and personal enquiries;
• Provide practical assistance for composting, recycling and other waste reduction activities;
• Collect information for the waste reduction directory and materials exchange program;
• Assist with simple business waste and energy assessments;
• Seek out potential community contacts for partnerships or presentations;
• Provide research and data analysis for various waste reduction programs; and
• Provide other duties as required.

This position requires a varied workweek schedule to accommodate special events and other activities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Sensitivity to and knowledge of environmental issues primarily focused on resource conservation.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills.
• Proven ability to communicate with tact and discretion in settling requests, complaints or clarifying information.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work unsupervised and demonstrated motivation and initiative.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work varied hours.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel and use of the Internet.

REQUIRED TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
• Post-secondary education, preferably in communications and public relations and/or environmental management or equivalent experience.
• Valid BC Driver’s License and acceptable driver’s abstract
• Meets requirements for working with children
• May be subject to security review.

TERM OF POSITION

This is a permanent, part-time position.
Hours of the position would vary according to the activities being undertaken, averaging 20-25 hours a week.
Compensation is $18.00 per hour, plus statutory benefits (after three month probationary period), healt benefits package (after probation). Reimbursement for use of personal vehicle at $.52/km.
Professional development and training opportunities will be provided.

TO APPLY
Please send resume and covering letter to:
Executive Director
Northern Environmental Action Team
ed@neat.ca
Closing date: June 15, 2011

Eco-Advisor in Dawson Creek

Jen and Styrofoam

Wed, 18 May 2011 22:26:04 +0000

I’m Jen, the newest member of the NEAT team. I’ve only been working here a week, and I have already learned so much, it’s incredible. Today I’m blogging about Styrofoam (polystyrene), and how we can reuse it, because in many areas (including the Peace), it’s not economically feasible to recycle it. I feel so guilty when I get Styrofoam take-out containers, or packaging in a product I just bought, because I know the only option for getting rid of it here is to throw it out. I try to avoid it at all costs in the first place, but sometimes I get stuck with it, SO, I asked Google and found some fabulous suggestions for reusing it.

1) Garden: The way I reuse Styrofoam most frequently is to put chunks of it in the bottom of my planters before I add the soil and plants. I do this with my house plants year-round, and in the spring when I’m working on developing my garden. Instead of using rocks etc for drainage, the Styrofoam allows the water to flow through. I sometimes fill my planters half-way, especially if the plants grow shorter roots, and then I only have to use half the soil, and it makes the planters so much lighter. I also use egg cartons as seed starters. They provide a cozy home with a lid for your little seedlings.

2) Boating/Water Sports: If you attach Styrofoam, like packing peanuts, to your boat keys or other little boating accessories, they will float if they end up in the water. You can do this with anything you take with you canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking- anywhere your stuff could potentially fall into some water and be gone forever.

3) Insulation: You can use Styrofoam (sheets or otherwise) as insulation in many ways. DO NOT use it in your home or near heat, as it is extremely flammable, but think of everything you buy that might already be insulated with it. Doghouses (but please don’t leave it exposed in case your pup thinks it looks tasty), water pump covers, sheds, greenhouses. Save yourself the money by saving your Styrofoam for a DIY insulating job.

4) Kids: Kids have lots of toys with tiny parts. Keep them in order by storing them in an empty egg carton. The separate compartments also make egg cartons great for storing craft supplies or jewellery. Also, crafting with the cartons can go anywhere a child can imagine it. I remember making egg carton tulips for a Mother’s Day gift in elementary school.

5) Home: You can cut up Styrofoam trays from delis and grocery stores to use as bumpers for furniture that may scratch your floors or artwork that may damage your walls.

Some cautions to take:

ALWAYS wash it completely. It may seem obvious, but eggs can leave behind nasty things you can’t see in the cartons.

DO NOT put it somewhere outside where it can start to break down and blow away.

NEVER leave it where pets can find it, they will get curious, and you’ll have a serious vet bill on your hands.

Happy Reusing!

Jen and Styrofoam

Is Trent Done or Determined?

Tue, 17 May 2011 23:12:30 +0000

You might notice that I’m late. Again. No real excuse except that nothing really interesting has happened over the last week. After airing out my complaints last go around, things have been smooth sailing. Oh, not perfect. The kids really don’t like the sliced cheese option, so that’s been coming back home every night for me to “dispose” of (mmm. Sliced warm mozzarella….) But really, once we made the decision to do this, we did it.

The only really interesting thing to note happened on Monday, when we finally made it to Dawson Creek to go shopping, and picked up some stainless steel juice bottles (well, they’re called water bottles, but let’s be realistic here….) to replace the stubby plastic pop bottles we’ve been using so far (yes, Cheryl, I was paying attention).

This is not something we picked up to show off for the last week of this article, but an investment in the future. No more tetra-packs for the kids for lunches.

Which begs the question. Now that we’ve gone litterless for a month, are we going to continue in perpetuity?

No. Or rather, not completely. We’ve invested in better quality sandwich containers and small snack containers and the aforementioned juice containers, but we also picked up a bag of prepackaged cheese strings. I mentioned the kids weren’t eating the sliced cheese, and while I came across a recipe to make your own cheese strings at home, the fact is I didn’t have time to try it out. While it would be nice to eliminate litter completely, we just don’t have the time or energy to be dogmatic about it.

Because even when we were packing “litterless” lunches, we weren’t, really. It’s just the litter had been reduced and removed from sight. The bread we make sandwiches from? Still comes in plastic bags. Plastic tubs for peanut butter. We can get nearly a week’s worth of canned peaches out of one of the big cans, but when that’s done, it still needs to be disposed of.

Even if we were to make our own bread, there’s still bags of flour, jars of yeast, bottles of oil. Yes, we would certainly reduce the amount of litter being generated, but we wouldn’t eliminate it, and to crow about the 100% litterless lunch would smack of hypocrisy.

Which is not to say that we’re not trying. And this exercise was eye opening to the relative ease it was to make a positive change with just a little bit of effort and a bit more time. And we’ve made a long-term investment in our kids’ lunches, with these containers and bottles. And while it isn’t a huge step, it is a step, and in the right direction.
Are you interested in reducing or eliminating the amount of litter you generate? There’s plenty of information online. Check out http://lunchwithoutwaste.com/LitterlessLunches.aspx as a starting point on your journey towards reducing the amount of waste generated by school lunches, or just do a search for “litterless lunches”.

Is Trent Done or Determined?

Week 3 for Brent's Reusable Mug

Fri, 13 May 2011 19:39:41 +0000

Three Weeks in and a lifetime to go...

Three weeks in, and let me tell you, I think the environment is breathing a sigh of relief knowing that less disposable coffee cups are getting thrown into the trash. This challenge has been a great eye opener in seeing how our society has become so disposable.

Like every challenge, you do have your ups and downs. For me, there has been a few times where I have found myself somewhere and no reusable cup with me. Since the challenge started, I probably have used about six disposable cups. For a three week period and only using six disposable cups, I’d say I am doing not too bad.

If you find yourself in a position where you do use disposable cups and such, there are places that do offer disposable cups that are plant based. I was both surprised and intrigued when I picked up a slushie at Mac’s and saw on the cup it was a plant based plastic. This caused me to pull out the laptop and google plant based plastic.

I saw an article on how the large soda companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are making a switch to plant based packaging. Right now, Coca-Cola uses a bottle that is 30 percent bio based material while Pepsi is launching in 2012 a 100 percent recyclable plant based bottle. The bottle is made from bio-based raw materials including switch grass, pine bark and corn husks. Unfortunately, these plant based plastic are not biodegradable but they are recyclable.

I found this interesting as these very large companies are working on reducing their footprints, but I also found it interesting to see that companies are researching these technologies to expand how and what materials can be used. Pepsi says they want to expand the program so they can use orange peels, potato peels, oat hulls and other agricultural byproducts from its food business.

Will a change from petroleum based plastics to plant based plastics cause a renewal interest in the agriculture industry? I do hope so and not just for the plastics industry but also for consumers to have more locally produced choices.

I realize I have gone a tad off topic in the last parts, but I have to tell you, when you take on a challenge like this, you find that your mind opens to exploring the possibilities of the alternatives out there. There is a world of possibilities so think about what could be your choices next time your out getting a cup of coffee.

I say 3 weeks in and a lifetime to go as this challenge is not just for a 1 month, its a challenge to last my lifetime. This is a chance to help lessen the garbage in our dumps and to show people that a small change can make a difference!

Week 3 for Brent's Reusable Mug

Trent Reflects on Week 3

Wed, 11 May 2011 20:12:59 +0000

Okay, so maybe I was a little optimistic last week. After the initial blush of optimism, things are starting to unravel, just a bit.

I've joked a couple times that my wife is the one who is bearing the brunt of most of this, because it is she who typically packs the kid's lunches. Last week, she felt this too, and mentioned, in no uncertain terms, that if this was to succeed, then it was going to be a group effort (read: get your lazy butt over here and help...).

Because the reusable containers are, well, reused, they can start to pile up after a couple days. Slowly they are creeping around the kitchen and starting to cover surfaces. But there's no reason to put them away when they'll be used again in a few hours ... or a few days.

Besides the overall mood of the house, we've been having problems with keeping track of the re-usable containers, including one day when my youngest daughter left her entire lunch kit at school. Small containers are at a premium, and get used from everything from peaches to crackers to cheese...in fact, the only thing not packed in the small containers are the sandwiches and the beverages. Having only half the number of small containers at home meant we had to break out the big containers, which meant that for at least one day, lunch wouldn't actually fit into the lunch kits. Thank goodness for overflow storage in the backpack!

Once all the containers were returned, it was discovered that (only) one had gone missing permanently. Still, that's one supposedly reusable container, no longer being re-used. And it got me thinking, what is the environmental impact of that vs a snack bag? How many uses does the re-usable container need before it becomes cost (monetarily and ecologically) effective? Does one small re-usable container equal five bags? Ten? The Sierra Club estimates that an American family spends $85 on plastic baggies for lunches. Trouble is, I might wind up spending that much simply replacing all the lost reusables. And if one of my children loses a recyclable container after only a couple uses, that's a much higher impact than to have just used a snack bag.
In a perfect world, reusable wins hands down, but this is not a perfect world and my poor eldest daughter has inherited my genetic tendency towards forgetfulness. (Have you noticed this article is appearing a few days late? Case in point.)

And, while a site like www.wastefreelunches.org is quick to point out that a parent will save about $250/child by packing waste-free lunches, they don't factor in other costs. Parents choose packaged foods because they are convenient. What the site doesn't calculate is the extra cost in hot water needed to wash these reusable containers, and more importantly, the parent's time investment in preparing a waste free lunch. What took five minutes before now takes 15 minutes. That's nearly an extra hour a week, just to pack lunches. An hour that could be spent writing blog articles on time. Or watching Doctor Who with the wife. Or hanging out with the kids. This is not to say that the time invested is not worth it. Just that it needs to be factored into the decision to go litterless. Because roundabout week three, it starts to become a little bit more than an exercise in "can I do this?" and it starts to get real, man.

And I'm not arguing to (or planning on) ditching the reusables. Because I suspect over the long haul (three weeks is not a long enough time to collect data) they will prove to be more cost effective and less environmentally harmful. Especially as the girls learn to bring their containers back. I'm actually shocked that only one has gone missing in two weeks. Maybe they aren't as forgetful as I am. Maybe I will get my article in on time next week.

Besides, there's a burgeoning industry in reusable lunch containers. Once we hit a point where the cheap plastic containers are being returned regularly, we might move up to something like the bags they sell at http://www.reuseit.com/, or possibly a Bento box like over at Laptop Lunches (http://secure.laptoplunches.com/AMAZING/items.asp?Cc=SYSTEMS_2.0&Bc=).That alien bento box looks pretty cool....