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Tag Archives: consumerism
An ode to Nana’s couch
My grandmother recently passed away. She lived a very long life, filled with much love and adventure. In the past fifteen years or so, she moved from her large single-family home into a seniors’ retirement building, then twice more into … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, clutter, conservation, consumerism, death, Declutter, grandmother, grandparent, heirloom, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse
1 Comment
Online shopping — is it good for the environment?
Online shopping has gained a lot of momentum over the last few years, as retailers of all sorts move toward making it more convenient for consumers to shop. What doesn’t sound appealing about shopping in your pajamas, out of the … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Disposal, Green Living, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, conservation, consumerism, cyber shopping, eco, environment, online retailer, online shopping, packaging waste, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management
2 Comments
Will you be my green Valentine?
It may feel like we’ve just gotten through the holiday season and now it is already time to start thinking about yet another holiday — Valentine’s Day. While Valentine’s Day is about celebrating love, it can result in a lot … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Green Living, GreenCart, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, conservation, consumerism, environment, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, Valentine, Valentine's Day, zero waste
1 Comment
Coffee discs and cups – what convenience means to waste management
Canadians love their coffee! According to one study, 65% of Canadians drink coffee daily, and 51% of coffee drinkers drink their coffee at home. Preparing your coffee at home is good for the environment because there’s no disposable cup that … Continue reading
Posted in Disposal, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, coffee, coffee cup, coffee disc, coffee machine, compost, composting, consumerism, environment, recycle, recycling, reduce, waste management, zero waste
3 Comments
All we want for Christmas… are environmentally friendly presents
With Christmas just around the corner, the award-winning HaltonRecycles team has visions of sugar plums, dancing in their heads. The team has put together their environmentally friendly wish list for Santa. “I’m hoping Santa brings me a new road bike this … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, Christmas, consumerism, eco, environment, gift, presents, zero waste
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Christmas: A time to renew the life of the Earth
One of the great holiday traditions at Christmas time is gathering with family and friends to set up a Christmas Manger scene in our homes and churches. I remember as a child taking great care in placing the figures of … Continue reading
Chanukah and the Environment
In the darkest days of December, the Jewish community will be celebrating our annual holiday of Chanukah. This ancient ritual dates back close to 2,500 years ago when the Greek-Syrians took over the holy land of Israel from the Jewish … Continue reading
Green is the new Black Friday
‘Tis the season — for shopping! For many North Americans, the day after the American Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, more commonly known as “Black Friday.” The day’s name originated in the 1960s and it marked the … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged Black Friday, consumerism, holidays, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, shopping
2 Comments
Five person family — one bag of garbage
I was out walking with my kids the evening before our waste collection day and my 6 year old commented that a neighbour down the street had A LOT of garbage. It’s funny what kids notice! I decided against speculating … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, GreenCart, Houses
Tagged 3rs, children, compost, composting, consumerism, environment, family, food, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management
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When you look at a can of cranberries, what do you see?
When you look at a can of cranberries, what do you see? Do you see a delicious side dish to your Thanksgiving turkey? Or do you also see the seeds that grew the cranberries? What about the farmers who planted, … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, conservation, consumerism, environment, environmental education, food, Garbage, holidays, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, Thanksgiving, zero waste
1 Comment
Meal planning = less stress and less waste!
Now that summer’s over, I am back to work and the kids are back in school. I am faced with my new reality of less time and more commitments. Gone are the days of deciding what to feed my family … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged children, compost, composting, consumerism, environment, family, food, reduce, zero waste
2 Comments
Back to school… back to green
For anyone involved in education, that feeling that creeps into your stomach as August fades away cannot be ignored. While September can bring anxiety over the uncertainties of new classes, new teachers, and a new school year, it also brings … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Schools
Tagged 3rs, children, composting, conservation, consumerism, environment, environmental education, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, school, sustainability, sustainable, waste management
3 Comments
The Green Fence Policy – China tightens restrictions at its boarders
About five months ago, there was a bit of a hiccup in the world-wide recycling industry: China implemented what is known as “The Green Fence Policy.” This policy has resulted in more rigorous scrutiny of all recyclable material coming into … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Businesses, Recycle
Tagged 3rs, China, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, green fence, green fence policy, product stewardship, recycle, recycling, waste management, zero waste
1 Comment
What’s the deal with “compostable” packaging?
Packaging is a huge business. Corporations spend millions of dollars annually to ensure their packaging choices are eye-catching, memorable, and easy to use — all in the effort to ensure consumers (you) buy their product. In recent years, many corporations … Continue reading
Shopping for a new fridge
I recently had to purchase a new fridge after my 30-year-old fridge reached was on its last leg. After hiring an electrician to have the fridge fixed many times, we decided it was cheaper to buy a new fridge. New … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged consumerism, energy conservation, fridge, recycle, recycling
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Think.Eat.Save – World Environment Day 2013
While not as well-known as Earth Day in April, World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5. Organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, World Environment Day raises awareness about the need for positive environmental action. The theme for the 2013 … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Reduce
Tagged composting, conservation, consumerism, environment, food, food waste, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, World Environment Day, zero waste
1 Comment
Travelogue: Dubai
Dubai, located in the United Arab Emirates, is home to some of the most grandiose infrastructures in the world with human-made islands in the middle of the ocean and a ski resort in the desert. Dubai is also currently home to … Continue reading
Posted in Travel
Tagged conservation, consumerism, Dubai, environment, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, sustainability, travel, United Arab Emirates, vacation, waste management, zero waste
1 Comment
Waste’s impact on biodiversity
Visit the Royal Ontario Museum and learn how biodiversity is being impacted by waste — and how we can minimize those environmental impacts.
Posted in Disposal, Green Living, Household Hazardous Waste, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Video
Tagged bald eagle, biodiversity, conservation, consumerism, environment, environmental education, household hazardous waste, International Day for Biological Diversity, nature, Royal Ontario Museum, sea turtle, sustainability, sustainable, waste management
1 Comment
Road Trip!
It is the start of summer. For many of us, it is also the start of summer road trips. Whether a trip to the cottage or exploring Canada, here are some tips that can help make the trip greener. Make … Continue reading
It’s easier to clean our hands than to clean our compost
This is a call out to residents to ensure we are all treating the GreenCart with the respect it deserves. Many residents are unaware that the material you throw in your GreenCart is being turned into beautiful compost. This compost … Continue reading
Posted in Compost, GreenCart
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, conservation, consumerism, environment, food, waste management, zero waste
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Stream of Dreams
This is one of my favourite times of year, not just because the flowers are blooming but because it means Conservation Halton Dream Team will soon be in local schools talking to children, teachers and parents about the importance of water … Continue reading
What Earth Day means to me
Earth Day is celebrated around the world on April 22. The first Earth Day was held in the United States in 1970 and was organized by Senator Gaylord Nelson. The first Canadian Earth Day was celebrated in 1980, and in 1990 … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Green Living
Tagged 3rs, children, conservation, consumerism, earth day, eco, environment, environmental education, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
7 Comments
All the good reasons Halton is reducing its garbage limit
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
Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, Green Living, GreenCart
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, sustainability, waste management, zero waste
1 Comment
Halton’s garbage tag program
Learn all about Halton Region’s garbage tag program. Starting April 1, 2013, Halton residents may place 3 garbage bags/cans or less at the curb every other week. More than 3 garbage bags/cans will require a “garbage tag,” up to a … Continue reading
Posted in Disposal, Garbage
Tagged 3rs, consumerism, environment, Garbage, landfill, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, sustainability, waste management, zero waste
2 Comments
Let’s talk food!
Did you know that March is nutrition month? I’ll admit I had never heard of this before until the Foodshare Toronto program was recently brought to my attention. It got me thinking: this is a month filled with anticipation for … Continue reading
Posted in Compost, Education, Green Living, Schools
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, food, Nutrition Month, sustainable
1 Comment
Preparing for baby
I am not a consumer. My husband and I modestly pride ourselves on being minimalists. Don’t get me wrong, I do like getting something new (or new to me) once in a while, but I definitely don’t desire the latest … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, baby, children, conservation, consumerism, environment, family, lifestyle, pregnancy, pregnant, sustainability, sustainable, waste management
2 Comments
I wish you enough
I enjoy a good internet meme like Texts from Hilary Clinton, Ikea Monkey and Kid President. Recently I came across a Facebook post/story that’s been making the rounds called “I wish you enough.” Part of the story included the following “poem,” which really got … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, sustainability, waste management, zero waste
1 Comment
Lent and the environment – making a connection
The season of Lent is arguably the oldest of Christian holy days. Lent lasts forty days, recalling the forty days Jesus fasted in the desert to prepare for his ministry. This year it runs from February 13 to March 30, … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, conservation, consumerism, Easter, environment, family, Holy Week, Lent, Maple Grove United Church, place of worship, recycling, reduce, reuse, spirituality, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
1 Comment
Please check your carry-on for waste
“Ladies and gentlemen we are approaching our final descent. The cabin crew will be by to pick up any service items.” If you have ever flown on a plane, you would have most likely heard this announcement. In some instances, … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Travel
Tagged 3rs, airline, airplane, airport, aviation, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, travel, vacation, waste diversion, waste management
2 Comments
Travelogue: Shuffle off to Buffalo
Canadian thrill seekers understand the adrenaline rush of wearing three newly purchased t-shirts, one on top of the other, as they cross the border from the U.S. back into Canada. “Nothing to declare.” I totally recognize that cross-border shopping discourages … Continue reading
Posted in Garbage, Green Living, Recycle, Travel
Tagged 3rs, consumerism, cross border shopping, eco, environment, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, shopping
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Alton Village Public School is going green
We are the Alton Village Public School Eco Team — a brand new elementary school in north Burlington. Our school is working hard every day to recycle and compost. The Eco Team promotes this by having announcements about what things … Continue reading
Posted in 3Rs Community Champion, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Schools
Tagged 3rs, Alton Village Public School, children, composting, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, environmental education, food, Halton District School Board, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management, zero waste
2 Comments
My new year’s resolutions – helping the environment more
I tend to consider September, with its emphasis on back-to-school new beginnings as more of a new year, however every January I do try to make some new year’s resolutions. Some studies indicate that by the end of January, a … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Recycle
Tagged conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, new year, New Year's Resolutions, recycle, recycling, reduce, resolutions, reuse, waste management, zero waste
2 Comments
That’s a wrap – environmentally friendly alternatives to wrapping paper
Even though there’s no snow, “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” The lights are up. The decorations are out. The gingerbread is in the oven. The tree is aglow. If your house is like mine, presents are starting … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, Green Living
Tagged 3rs, Christmas, conservation, consumerism, environment, gift, presents, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, wrapping paper, zero waste
6 Comments
Eco friendly gifts for the holidays
It’s the holiday season, and as that old song goes, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” It’s a time for gathering with family and friends, taking part in celebrations, sharing delicious meals, and giving gifts. Unfortunately, along with all … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, Christmas, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, family, gift, holiday waste, holidays, presents, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
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Green holiday shopping tips
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
Posted in Green Living, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, children, Christmas, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, family, food, gift, holidays, presents, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, shopping, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
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There’s a new box in Halton Region, and it’s orange!
Every week, Halton residents fill their Blue Boxes and Greencarts and place them at the curb for recycling and composting. Sometimes, if you are doing a big clean up, you will put your large items out for bulk collection or bring them to … Continue reading
Posted in Household Hazardous Waste, Landfill, Recycle
Tagged 3rs, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, hazardous waste material, hazardous waste materials, household hazardous waste, product stewardship, recycle, recycling, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
4 Comments
Five Weird Electronic Recycling Facts
With electronic recycling becoming increasingly crucial to the future of the planet, recovering mobile phones, and recycling old computers, televisions, printers and other electronic goods should be a priority for those that want to improve their ecological footprint. When considering … Continue reading
10 Ways to Repurpose Common Household Items
Whether you want to save some money, add a unique decorative touch to your home, or you just do not want to throw something out, there are many ways you can reuse common household items. Here are some suggestions to … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged conservation, consumerism, diy, environment, reduce, reuse, style, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
2 Comments
A Green Halloween
As a kid growing up, Halloween was always one of the most exciting times of the year. Nothing beat dressing up as your favourite character, scaring the living daylights out of a few unsuspecting adults, and getting rewarded with candy! … Continue reading
Posted in Apartments, Green Living, Houses
Tagged 3rs, children, conservation, consumerism, costume, eco, energy conservation, Halloween, holidays, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse
4 Comments
A symbol that changed the world
The recycling logo. You know the one I mean — the triangle made up of three arrows, drawn as a möbius, or continuous, loop. This symbol — the recycling logo — has changed the world. It has grown beyond its … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, environmental education, recycle, recycling, recycling logo, recycling symbol, reduce, reuse, science, waste management, zero waste
3 Comments
An inadvertent side effect of a Full House – How would Uncle Jesse manage all this waste?
A little while back my in-laws decided to downsize and sell their house. They got into the early spring market and voila — their house sold in record time at full asking price. Only problem was that everything happened a … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Compost, Garbage, Green Living, GreenCart, Houses, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, children, composting, conservation, consumerism, eco, environment, family, food, Garbage, parents, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, sustainability, sustainable, waste management
2 Comments
Let’s reduce, reuse, recycle when going back to school
It’s yet again that time of year… back to school! It’s time to find out what can be reused from last year’s wardrobe and what school supplies are still in good condition to be used again. As each school year … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Education, Green Living, GreenCart, Houses, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Schools
Tagged 3rs, back to school, children, clothing, conservation, consumerism, education, environment, food, Garbage, parents, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, school, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
2 Comments
Do you know what’s in your cell phone?
At a recent family function, I pulled out my cell phone to answer a text message. My family members were appalled — not because I was being rude and answering a text message, but because I have an “old” cell … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, E-waste, Green Living, Recycle
Tagged 3rs, cellphone, coltan, Congo, congo drc, consumerism, Democratic Republic of Congo, e-waste, electronic waste, environment, lowland gorilla, product stewardship, recycle, recycling, science, sustainability, sustainable, technology, waste management, zero waste
1 Comment
Innovations in recycling
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
Posted in Blue Box, Education, Green Living, Product Stewardship, Recycle
Tagged 3rs, consumerism, education, environment, extended producer responsbility, hazardous waste materials, product stewardship, recycle, recycling, science, Stewardship Ontario, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
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Reduce waste and reuse your leftovers for delicious new meals
I love leftovers! I love making a new meals or baked goods out of food that was left from the night before, or even from fruit that we just didn’t get around to eating. I love the idea of being … Continue reading
Posted in Apartments, Compost, Green Living, GreenCart, Houses, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, breakfast, children, composting, consumerism, cooking, eco, education, environment, family, food, Garbage, leftovers, parents, recipe, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, zero waste
4 Comments
Yard sales have always been great for the environment
Yard sales have been around for as long as there have been yards with green grass. That’s likely because the original motivation to have one still holds true today: “I have more stuff than I need, but maybe someone else … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Disposal, Garbage, Green Living, Houses, Landfill, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, consumerism, eco, environment, family, garage sale, hoarding, landfill, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, science, spring cleaning, waste management, yard sale
2 Comments
Reuse and Recycle Clothing to Help the Environment
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.
Posted in Apartments, Green Living, Houses, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Video
Tagged 3rs, children, clothes, clothing, conservation, consumerism, creativity, culture, education, environment, family, home, recycling, reduce, reuse, science, spring cleaning, style, sustainable, textiles, video, waste management, zero waste
3 Comments
Cheers to a 3Rs Community Champion: The Carafe Wine Makers (Georgetown)
What does a full-bodied Shiraz with a hint of cassis and saving the planet have in common? Carafe Wine Makers in Georgetown of course! Owners Don and Catherine Jones have committed themselves to a great business with an extremely strong … Continue reading
Posted in 3Rs Community Champion, Apartments, Businesses, Green Living, Houses, Product Stewardship, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, carafe wine makers, consumerism, cork, environment, natural corks, product stewardship, recycling, sustainable, waste management, wine, wine making, zero waste
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