Author Archives: Shirley McLean

About Shirley McLean

I am the Supervisor of Solid Waste Planning at Halton Region. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Guelph. My career focus is to work on programs and policies that lessen the environmental impact of waste on our earth.

Children’s car seats and the 3Rs

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Shirley McLean

Here at Halton Region, we often get asked if children’s car seats can be recycled or reused. This is one item that it is very difficult to apply the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). The first R, reduce, cannot be avoided … Continue reading →

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Posted in Recycle, Reduce, Reuse | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Update on Ontario’s Waste Reduction Act

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Shirley McLean

Earlier this summer, HaltonRecycles wrote about the new waste management legislation introduced to the Ontario Legislature on June 6, 2013: Bill 91, the Waste Reduction Act and Waste Reduction Strategy. The proposed Act will help to establish a new system … Continue reading →

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Posted in Blue Box, Businesses, Houses, Product Stewardship, Recycle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Growing heirloom seeds with compost

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Shirley McLean

This spring I read a blog at Yard Eatins  that featured a list of heirloom seed suppliers compiled by Treehugger and a video of Jere Gettle, founder of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I like to garden and this inspired me … Continue reading →

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All the good reasons Halton is reducing its garbage limit

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Shirley McLean

As of April 1, 2013, Halton Region has reduced its garbage bag limit and introduced garbage tags. Information on the program details and garbage tags can be found at http://www.halton.ca/garbagetags. You may be wondering why Halton Region is reducing its garbage … Continue reading →

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Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, Green Living, GreenCart | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gross National Happiness Index

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Shirley McLean

Gross Domestic Product (GDP), defined as the value of goods and services produced in a country in a given period of time, is the globally accepted indicator for standard of living. However, the old saying “Money can’t buy you happiness” … Continue reading →

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Green holiday shopping tips

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Shirley McLean

It’s that time of year again, the pumpkins and leaves have been sent to the composting pile and the malls are decked in holiday décor.  The stores are filling up with holiday shoppers. According to Moneyville, the average Canadian will spend … Continue reading →

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The importance of waste management and fresh water resources: Looking at Indonesia’s Citarum River

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Shirley McLean

Before you read this blog post, you may want to watch this YouTube video on the Citarum River: We are so lucky to have the fresh water resources and river systems that we do in Ontario. I have been very … Continue reading →

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Posted in Blue Box, Disposal, Green Living, GreenCart, Household Hazardous Waste | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Preparing for a move in Halton Region?

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Shirley McLean

While I was in the midst of packing up all my possessions to move them to my new house, I started to question my decision to do this. I am starting to understand why on the TV show Love It … Continue reading →

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Innovations in recycling

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Shirley McLean

I recently attended Stewardship Ontario’s Sustainability Summit at the Brickworks in Toronto. Stewardship Ontario is a private, not-for-profit, industry led stewardship organization established in 2002 under the Waste Diversion Act. Based on a model of shared responsibility, stewards and municipalities split … Continue reading →

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Reuse and Recycle Clothing to Help the Environment

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Shirley McLean

In this 3 minute 34 second video, I interview Elisha deKort of Clothing For Charity Ltd., to learn how clothing can be reused and recycled in Halton Region to help the environment.

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Posted in Apartments, Green Living, Houses, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Movie Review: Waste Land

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Shirley McLean

With the Oscars fresh on everyone’s minds, I want to share my thoughts on a movie I recently watched that was also nominated for an Oscar in 2011 in the Best Documentary Feature category. The movie is Waste Land, directed … Continue reading →

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Posted in Education, Green Living, Landfill, Movie Review, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sustainable Lessons from our Grandmothers

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Shirley McLean

“A house needs a grandma in it.” ~ Louisa may Alcott Recently, I have been reading the excellent book, Barefoot Blogger: How To Save The Planet by Karin Kloosterman. In her book she reminds us how our grandmothers are good … Continue reading →

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Posted in Education, Green Living, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The GoodGuide: Helping Consumers Make Informed Choices

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Shirley McLean

Do you want to make good consumer choices when shopping, but are not sure how to do that? Do you want to choose products that do not contain harmful chemicals and are made by companies with good social policies? The … Continue reading →

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Posted in Apartments, Businesses, Compost, Education, Green Living, Household Hazardous Waste, Product Stewardship, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Making Christmas free of waste and stress

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Shirley McLean

Have you started thinking about your holiday shopping? Do you feel excitement or dread when you look at your list? Several years ago my family decided to make a change when it came to gift giving. We used to buy … Continue reading →

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Posted in Apartments, Blue Box, Green Living, Houses, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What does FSC stand for?

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Shirley McLean

Have you noticed a small tree symbol with the initials FSC under it on some of your mail lately? It is also on the back of Halton Region’s Waste Management Guide and Collection Calendar. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Green Living, Product Stewardship | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Ever thought about using cloth diapers?

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Shirley McLean

Are you a new parent dealing with all the excitement and fast pace of a little one? Have you noticed how many disposable diapers you go through in one day? Perhaps you are expecting your first little one and not … Continue reading →

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Posted in Disposal, Garbage, Green Living, Reduce, Reuse | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments