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Tag Archives: environment
Top 10 blogs about recycling and waste
This blog launched in September 2011, and since then, we’ve published 236 posts about waste management! Who knew there’d be so much to say about waste? These posts have explored our personal and collective connections to waste; they’ve touched on local, provincial, national and … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, blog, conservation, environment, environmental education, waste management, zero waste
4 Comments
Put waste in the right place
Have you used Halton Region’s popular Put Waste In Its Place database? Simply type the name of an item and we’ll tell you how to recycle, compost or dispose of it properly. Here’s a list of the top five most commonly searched … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, GreenCart
Tagged 3rs, composting, environment, recycle, recycling, shredded paper, waste management, zero waste
2 Comments
“What Earth Day means to me” by Omar Hadi
Our home planet, Earth, is the only world known to us to contain life. We depend on it. We all walk on the surface of the Earth, we all breathe the air supplied by Earth, and so it should be our … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged compost, composting, earth day, environment, environmental education, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management
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“What Earth Day means to me” by Christina Stratford
What words come to mind when you think about Earth? Beautiful, luscious…our home. Yet, there are only some places on our planet that look like what I have just described. If you want to make every place in the world look … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged compost, composting, earth day, environment, environmental education, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management
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“What Earth Day means to me” by Sam Bisutti
April 22, not only is it my birthday, but it is also the day of an environmental event taking place all over the world. It’s Earth Day, and that means many things to many different people. Let me explain what … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged compost, composting, earth day, environment, environmental education, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management
8 Comments
Playing for the environment this World Theatre Day
Live theatre is thriving in Halton! From presenting theatres to community theatre groups, and high school drama clubs to college programs, theatre practioners and audience members have so many options to be thrilled and entertained. Today, March 27 is World Theatre … Continue reading
Posted in Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, comedy, community theatre groups, drama, environment, play, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, theatre, theatre companies, waste management, World Theatre Day
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Egg-cellent information about recycling
Sunny-side, over easy, scrambled or hard-boiled — who doesn’t love an egg? Remember, egg shells go in the GreenCart. Paper egg cartons go in the GreenCart. Clear plastic egg cartons go in the Blue Box. Styrofoam egg cartons go in … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, GreenCart
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, conservation, environment, recycle, recycling, waste management
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School lunch programs and the packaging waste they create
When I was in elementary school, we’d have hot dog days once every few months. Parents would get together and steam hot dogs in the staff room. The hot dogs came wrapped in a paper napkin, and we had a … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Compost, Garbage, GreenCart, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Schools
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, conservation, environment, environmental education, hot lunch, pita day, pizza day, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, school, waste management, zero waste
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Reuse Centres in Halton Region: Upper Credit Humane Society Thrift Shop
Part of a series about the charitable reuse centres operating in Halton Region. Waste audits have shown 7% of the materials found in Halton’s residential garbage stream are textile materials that could be salvaged through reuse centres. This number may … Continue reading
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
Travelogue – South Korea
Recently I had the pleasure of visiting South Korea. Whenever I visit a foreign country, I can’t help but notice their waste bins; it’s a side-effect of working in the industry. While my friends take pictures of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Travel
Tagged conservation, environment, holidays, Korea, recycling, Seoul, South Korea, vacation, waste management
1 Comment
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
LEGO – an opportunity to reuse
Let’s face it — everyone loves LEGO! Kids love it. Adults love it. Heck, I’m in my mid 30s, and I still get a new LEGO set each Christmas! From Ninjago to LEGO Friends, from the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre to the upcoming The … Continue reading
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
Reuse Centres in Halton Region: Burlington Reuse Centre
Part of a series about the charitable reuse centres operating in Halton Region. Waste audits have shown 7% of the materials found in Halton’s residential garbage stream are textile materials that could be salvaged through reuse centres. This number may not … Continue reading
Posted in Reuse, Reuse Centres in Halton
Tagged 3rs, Burlington, Burlington Reuse Centre, conservation, eco, environment, reduce, reuse
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2014 Halton Waste Management Guide and Collection Calendar – how it’s made
Starting tomorrow, residents of Halton Region will start to receive their 2014 Waste Management Guide & Collection Calendar. This popular guide — the largest public document produced by Halton — provides you with your waste collection schedule, and information about Blue … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, Green Living, GreenCart
Tagged 2014 Waste Management Guide & Collection Calendar, 3rs, Collection Calendar, compost, composting, conservation, environment, Halton Region, printing, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management, waste management services, zero waste
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It started with a pickle bottle and a can
I was doing my dishes before meeting with a women’s conversation group. Beside the sink, there was a bottle and a can. I thought, “My children’s future: the glass in this bottle will never turn back to beach sand, and … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Recycle
Tagged 3rs, environment, family, recycle, Recycling Revisited, waste management, zero waste
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Winter is Coming… and the waste collection crews are too…
Like the fantasy author George RR Martin has been warning us for some time “Winter is coming.” But even if you’re not a Game of Thrones fan, or living in the Kingdoms of Westeros, there’s no denying a major snowfall is here! … Continue reading
Posted in Compost, Garbage, Recycle
Tagged 3rs, compost, eco, environment, Game of Thrones, Garbage, recycle, recycling, snow, waste collection, Westeros, winter
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Recycling in Downton Abbey
January 5, 2014 marks the return of Downton Abbey in North America, and I for one couldn’t be more excited. I came late to this television masterpiece, having binge-viewed the first three seasons over the past few weeks. Telling the story of … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, History, Movie Review, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, conservation, Downton Abbey, environment, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, TV, waste management
2 Comments
Happy holidays from HaltonRecycles
HaltonRecycles, and the entire Halton Region Waste Management Services division, wish you and your family a most happy holiday! Enjoy this Christmas recycling poem!
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, Christmas, environment, holidays, recycle, reduce, reuse, sustainability, sustainable, waste management, zero waste
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A Christmas card conundrum
I admit it: I’m addicted to paper. Books, newspaper, writing paper, computer paper, flyers, brochures — I love it all. My love of paper is especially heightened during the holidays, as I love mailing (and receiving) Christmas cards. But this … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, Canada Post, Christmas, Christmas card, Christmas cards, environment, mail, paper, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, zero waste
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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
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
When I was a child I eagerly anticipated going to get a Christmas tree. I can vividly remember trekking through the snow and endless rows trying to find the perfect one. When we finally found it, the joy of yelling … Continue reading
Posted in Compost, Green Living
Tagged 3rs, artificial tree, Christmas, Christmas tree, Christmas tree farm, compost, composting, conservation, environment, fake tree, family, holiday waste, holidays, natural tree, real tree, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, tree
3 Comments
Wrap it up in environmentally friendly ways!
The holiday season is officially here! Festive music, tempting treats, colourful decorations and gift giving! Although a most wonderful time of the year, generous gift giving can create a lot of waste. You may be surprised to learn that gift … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, Green Living
Tagged 3rs, Christmas, eco, environment, environmental education, gift, Gift wrapping, Gifts and Occasions, holiday waste, holidays, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, sustainable
4 Comments
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
Can we ban plastic?
“Why don’t we ban plastic?” I’m asked this question regularly when delivering waste diversion workshops to schools, community groups and businesses. Plastic is seen as a big issue, from taking up space in our Blue Boxes, to causing worldwide situations … Continue reading
Posted in Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, environment, plastic, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management, zero waste
1 Comment
Reuse Centres in Halton Region: Wastewise
Part of a series about the charitable reuse centres operating in Halton Region. Waste audits have shown that 7% of the materials found in Halton’s residential garbage stream are textile materials that could be salvaged through reuse centres. This number may … Continue reading
Posted in Reuse, Reuse Centres in Halton
Tagged 3rs, conservation, eco, environment, Halton Hills, reduce, reuse, Wastewise
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Update on Ontario’s Waste Reduction Act
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
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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School librarians promote reduce, reuse, recycle
Books have the power to educate, entertain and enthrall. They can cause personal reflection, a change of thought, and a call to action. In recognition of Waste Reduction Week in Canada and the need to protect our environment, teacher-librarians, library technicians and … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, book, children, eco, environment, environmental education, Halton District School Board, libraries, library, literacy, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, sustainability, waste management, zero waste
1 Comment
It’s Waste Reduction Week in Canada – how are you reducing waste?
Designers and labels get Fashion Weeks in cities around the world. The entire movie industry gets two weeks in Toronto every September. But they have nothing on the most important five days on my calendar: Waste Reduction Week in Canada. … Continue reading
Posted in Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, environment, environmental education, recycle, recycling, recycling council of ontario, reduce, reuse, Waste Reduction Week in Canada, zero waste
1 Comment
Are you throwing away edible food?
My personal journey with food waste started in October 2011, when I heard Dr. Ralph Martin, Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production from the University of Guelph, deliver a keynote speech about how we are going to feed ourselves in … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, GreenCart
Tagged 3rs, compost, composting, environment, family, food, food waste, Ralph Martin, sustainability, World Food Day, zero waste
5 Comments
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
Keep your GreenCart clean
It’s that time of year again; summer has ended. For some of us, our GreenCarts have seen better days. The summer’s heat speeds up the decomposition of food waste in our GreenCart (which can cause odours), and can make our … Continue reading
Posted in Compost
Tagged compost, composting, eco, environment, waste management, zero waste
2 Comments
Municipalities work together and encourage you to “recycle more”
Traditionally, Blue Box recycling programs in Ontario have varied from municipality to municipality. That’s now starting to change, with many municipalities accepting the same sort of materials, especially when it comes to rigid plastic packaging. Representing nearly 7 million people, … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Product Stewardship, Recycle
Tagged 3rs, Blue Box, environment, municipalities, recycle, Recycle More, recycling, waste management
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Plastic shopping bags: friend or foe?
I try my best to bring reusable shopping bags with me when I go to a store. However, I have to admit there have been occasions when I have forgotten them at home or in the car and am offered … Continue reading
Reuse Centres in Halton Region: Canadian Diabetes Association
Part of a new series about the charitable reuse centres operating in Halton Region. Waste audits have shown that 7% of the materials found in Halton’s residential garbage stream are textile materials that could be salvaged through reuse centres. This number … Continue reading
Posted in Reuse, Reuse Centres in Halton
Tagged 3rs, Canadian Diabetes Association, conservation, eco, environment, reduce, reuse
1 Comment
Trees and recycling – connect to National Tree Day
Trees and recycling have a long history together. With National Tree Day coming up on September 25, 2013, let’s have a look at how trees, paper and recycling are connected. In Canada, we are fortunate to have a vast supply … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Recycle
Tagged 3rs, conservation, environment, environmental education, forest, National Forest Week, National Tree Day, recycle, recycling, tree, trees, waste management
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
WasteAid – working to improve waste management in developing countries
Imagine waking up in the morning. Instead of making breakfast, you head out into the streets, scavenging through litter and accumulated waste to find food and clothing for your family. You then head to the local dump where you pick … Continue reading
Movie Review: Trash Dance
Is waste collection an art? To help make the case, in 2009, Allison Orr of Forklift Danceworks embedded herself with the City of Austin‘s solid waste management department, learning about waste collection procedures, trucks and equipment, and befriending the workers. Using these … Continue reading
Posted in Movie Review
Tagged 3rs, arts, dance, environment, environmental education, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, Trash Dance, waste management
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Halton Region’s $2 Garbage Tag Program
By recycling and composting more, you’ll have less garbage. In Halton Region, you may place out three garbage bags/cans or less at the curb every other week. More than three garbage bags/cans require a “garbage tag,” up to a total … Continue reading
Posted in Garbage
Tagged composting, environment, Garbage, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management
1 Comment
Happy New Year! It’s back to school
Today, students, teachers, custodians and administrators of the Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District School Board, Provincial Schools Branch, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud start a new school year. Halton Region has great partnerships with the publicly-funded … Continue reading
Summer fades into autumn
As summer fades in autumn, I’m reminded how the change of season also changes my family’s waste management practices. Around the house, it’s time to locate our reusable lunch bag, thermos, containers and cutlery in preparation for packing waste-free lunches … Continue reading
Posted in Compost, Green Living, Household Hazardous Waste, Reuse
Tagged 3rs, autumn, compost, conservation, eco, environment, gardening, household hazardous waste, Yard Waste
1 Comment
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
Reuse Centres in Halton Region: Breast Cancer Support Services
Part of a new series about the charitable reuse centres operating in Halton Region. Reuse centres provide many positive benefits to our community: they create jobs, provide affordable shopping, and divert waste from out landfill. Many reuse centres are registered charities, … Continue reading
Posted in Reuse, Reuse Centres in Halton
Tagged 3rs, Breast Cancer Support Services, conservation, eco, environment, reduce, reuse
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One of the most selfish acts in the world… illegal dumping
In my opinion, illegal dumping is one of the most selfish and self-centred acts anyone can commit. Think about it for a moment. A resident or a business feels it is okay to fill their personal or commercial vehicle with … Continue reading
Posted in Disposal
Tagged conservation, disposal, eco, environment, illegal dumping, outdoors, waste management
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Reuse Centres in Halton Region: Burlington Humane Society
Part of a series about the charitable reuse centres operating in Halton Region. Reuse centres provide many positive benefits to our community: they create jobs, provide affordable shopping, and divert waste from out landfill. Many reuse centres are registered charities, … Continue reading
Posted in Reuse, Reuse Centres in Halton
Tagged 3rs, Burlington Humane Society, conservation, eco, environment, reduce, reuse
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Travelogue: A Journey Through Eastern Canada
Recently, my wife, our dog and I headed out east for a driving vacation through Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. We stayed at private camp grounds, provincial parks, national parks and the odd hotel, and it gave me … Continue reading