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Tag Archives: reduce
“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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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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Children’s car seats and the 3Rs
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
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
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
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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Recycling in the age of Hercules
I admit I’m a sucker for TV shows and movies that depict ancient Greece and Rome — Spartacus, I, Claudius, Rome, Troy, Immortals, Clash of the Titans, Gladiator — they’re right up my alley. This year, I’ll be lining up at the movies to … Continue reading
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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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
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
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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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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Waste less this Halloween
As old Hallow’s eve draws near, costume ideas and sugary treats are on a lot of people’s minds. It is a fun and festive fall celebration, and one that can also create a large amount of waste with disposable candy … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged compost, composting, costume, eco, Garbage, Halloween, holiday waste, holidays, Parties, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, Trick-or-treating, waste management
1 Comment
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
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
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
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
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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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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Cups runneth over
The summer season is in full swing — bringing long weekends and warmer temperatures, backyard barbeques and outdoor parties. Entertaining in the summer is fun and, while reusable beverage cups are truly the best option, many find that outdoor entertaining … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Box, Garbage, Green Living, GreenCart
Tagged beverage, Blue Box, composting, cup, eco, environment, Garbage, GreenCart, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management, zero waste
7 Comments
Fore! Look out, the 2013 RBC Canadian Open is going green!
This year, from July 22 to 28, Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville will be hosting the 104th Canadian Open golf tournament. This week long tournament showcases the abilities of over 26 amateur and professional Canadian and international golfers. It … Continue reading
Posted in Compost, Green Living, Recycle
Tagged compost, composting, conservation, eco, environment, glen abbey golf club, golf, RBC Canadian Open, recycle, recycling, reduce, zero waste
3 Comments
Halton Haz Waste – For the Orange Box!
Halton Region has turned a little orange over the past nine months. That’s because almost 1,000 homes are participating in Halton’s Orange Box pilot program. The Orange Box Pilot Program was first launched at the Halton Waste Management Site’s 20th Anniversary on … Continue reading
Plan now for efficient water irrigation this summer
Automatic irrigation systems have become popular because of convenience, however they do not always translate into improved water efficiency. Many systems use excessive amounts of water due to improper design, installation, and/or maintenance. Irrigation systems that significantly over-water are not … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged conservation, eco, efficient water management, environment, garden, gardening, irrigation, reduce, Smart Irrigation Month, water
1 Comment
Improving waste diversion in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector
In Ontario, households are doing a great job practicing the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). From shopping wisely and choosing products with minimal packaging to packing food in reusable containers, residents’ participation in curbside recycling programs helps Ontario’s household waste diversion … Continue reading
Posted in Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged business, conservation, environment, landfill, product stewardship, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, waste management, zero waste
9 Comments
Six steps to upcycling success: from baby crib to blanket rack
Several years ago, a friend’s parents were preparing their home for sale. This included decluttering three decades worth of family-oriented items before they would make a “downsizing” move to another house. During a pre-move visit, I found that many precious, … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Houses, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Tagged baby shower, before and after, blanket rack, children, cribs, Declutter, diy, downsizing, family, paint, reduce, refinish, reuse, Up cycle, upcycle, upcycling
4 Comments
Growing heirloom seeds with compost
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
Posted in Compost, Green Living
Tagged Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, compost, composting, eco, environment, food, gardening, Jere Gettle, nature, reduce, reuse, sustainability, sustainable, tomato
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Floating cities and the waste they create
I recently had the opportunity to call a new place home for 14 nights. This new home is a magical place where you can throw your towels on the floor and they get cleaned and replaced twice a day. There … Continue reading
Posted in Disposal, Green Living, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Travel
Tagged 3rs, conservation, cruise, cruise ships, eco, environment, ocean, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, vacation, waste management, water, zero waste
1 Comment
Reusing plastic milk bags
Canadians should be proud of some of the life changing inventions they have pioneered. However, Canadians have also invented a number of items that have wreaked havoc to the planet. The familiar green garbage bag was a Canadian invention. Canadians … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living
Tagged 3rs, crochet, eco, environment, milk bag, plastic bag, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, zero waste
4 Comments
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