http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/ An information service from The Composting Council of Canada presented by Solid Waste & Recycling magazine. en Copyright 2008 Wed, 14 May 2008 07:44:57 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss International Compost Awareness Week and it was such a good, good celebration. One of the new people in our office, Jim, who is helping to bump up our website presence, asked a while back: "What do you do during Compost Week?" My quick answer back to him was "We eat cake". And while we do a lot of more celebrating than that .... cake does have a way of showing up at our events. There were compost cupcakes (chocolate cake muffins, iced with chocolate, sprinkled with chocolate graham crackers with a gummy worm coming out of the middle) at the Memorial University of Newfoundland's Botanical Gardens event to kick off the week on Sunday May 4th. Despite a flooded city, we had carrot cake at Envirem Technologies in Fredericton following a lunch to recognize the Fredericton Backyard Composters and their many years of cajoling and educating residents about the power of organics recycling and compost. Green Manitoba had, aside-from-my-Mom's, the best date squares at our meeting on Tuesday; the folks at SWANA Northern Lights invited us to help "spread the compost" message at their annual conference in Regina (serving a fabulous dessert complete with a chocolate iced wafer shaped as a RCMP hat at their evening festivities --- which admittedly wasn't exactly for Compost Week ... but everything counts in my opinion). We ended the week in Toronto at the Leslie Street Allotment Gardens on the Saturday with store-bought cookies from us (ok, so I didn't bake them myself. I pride myself in living up to one of my mottos that "it takes just as much talent to know where to buy it as to how to bake it"). A fun week that basically means a lot of walking for the next couple to wear off the celebratory pounds. As a final footnote to this entry, the following formed part of our "formal" communication for last week's efforts. International Compost Awareness Week, an event that started here in Canada in 1995, will be celebrated both here as well in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia from May 4th – 10th, 2008. This year, our message is simple: Compost! Recycle Your Organics. And, in the tradition of Top 10 lists, here are some of the reasons to become part of the “Green Wave of Recycling”. 1. Send less to landfill. Organics represent over one-third of the materials being sent to landfills. Whether through backyard or large-scale composting or anaerobic digestion, those banana peels, apple cores and other organic materials can be recycled. 2. Reduce greenhouse gases. According to Environment Canada, landfill sites account for about 38 per cent of Canada's total methane emissions. It’s the organics that are buried in the landfill that are a key contributor to this production of greenhouse gases. 3. Recover valuable materials. Composting produces compost, the single most important ingredient for healthy and productive soil. 4. Decrease soil erosion. Soil erosion can remove nutrients from the soil, reducing its productivity, as well as reducing runoff that can carry sediment, nutrients and chemicals into waterways thereby creating new sources of pollution. Compost helps enhance soil structure and binds soil particles together. 5. Revitalize soil. Compost helps provide sustenance for the very necessary biological diversity in the soil. Plants depend on this to convert materials into plant available nutrients and to keep the soil well aerated. 6. Reduce the need to water. By improving the soil structure through the addition of compost, water is retained and available for plants. 7. Reduce the need for pesticides. Compost can help suppress plant diseases. 8. Save money. Through backyard composting, you can turn your leftover organics into a valuable soil amendment without spending a dime. 9. Make your garden grow. Compost provides essential organic matter for the soil, which is of fundamental importance to its’ health, vitality and fertility. 10. Make a positive environmental difference. With compost, you can take resources otherwise regarded as waste – organic residuals - and turn them into something of value while at the same time realizing landfill and greenhouse gas reductions, improved soil productivity and water quality. Compost … For the Love of the Earth ! .... and as a sign off today re: next steps ... i. What did you know? ii. What did you do about it? COMPOST! ]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2008/05/yesterday_i_was_at_an.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2008/05/yesterday_i_was_at_an.htm Wed, 14 May 2008 07:44:57 -0500 Well, when you have bad things happen, you hope that they all get squeezed into one day so that at the end of everything, you can go home, sleep and wake up anew, hopeful again. When you have a very good day, you just have to be grateful.... and say "let it roll". It has been brutally cold in our office over the past couple of days. Probably a reflection of outside temperatures and our desire not to crank things up too much temperature-wise in the office. But we are just human and quite honestly, we do play with the temperature thing-y that regulates our surroundings. Christie, my little one (puppy), sleeps right in front of one of the vents. That is prime time position for the 3 hound-dogs of our office. She does not pull rank 'cause of me. She has her own power base from which she draws her strength --- she is one tough girly-girl-dog. Bart & Bella (more so Bart) respect her alpha-dog status (at least so I think). But what a fine day. We received approval for a guideline document on "how to organize an organics collection program" for a business organization that spans the country. Our national conference plans and the dynamics of each day are getting more concrete.... goodness, if anyone wants to go to one amazing conference this year, it has to be our conference in Quebec City in September. Who would not want to go to a conference that combines the best and most up-to-date info on organics recovery in Canada as well as the 400th Anniversary celebrations of Quebec City ---- THE MOST gorgeous and some-would-say-Romantic city (romantic as in the sense of history and life versus whatever else the word, romance, means) in North America. We organized the days events for our national conference today and it will be absolutely historical.... Our Anaerobic Digestion Workshop is really taking shape --- looks like it will be April 1st (Guelph) and April 2nd (Ottawa). It has taken organizational time beyond expectations but I think that we landed things today. And how amazing the people here are.... Danielle whose 3 Black Belts are symbolic of her talented power, Tyrone whose artistic talents are so graphically amazing, Fanny who ensures que nous sommes un bureau bilingue ... and then the many wonderful people who know our many weaknesses and like us just the same. And on a personal note, our community hall in Utopia got the approval to proceed with a building extension. How great. We are getting closer to bringing the hall back into working order for our community's needs (and fundraising efforts). I can hardly wait to have our first Composting Workshop there. We'll have THE best lunch --- hopefully the Ladies of St. George's will be willing to make their famous & amazing pies. Then we can go to the Utopia Conservation Area which has now become our community's responsibility and which, has gained much 'cause of our work with The Composting Council of Canada. Hopefully by then our 140+ year old gristmill will be that much closer to restoration. Anyways, dreams and hopes abound. All 'cause people believe in our causes. So. A good day. A very good day. A time to celebrate. And to be thankful for the privilege to help support the making of great things & change happen. http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2008/01/a_very_good_day.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2008/01/a_very_good_day.htm Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:10:43 -0500 Landscape Ontario Congress was once again a great happening this week and now our exhibit and selves are back in the office, rev'd up again by the members, colleagues and organizations that we connected with over the last couple of days. What had started as a connection begun a number of years ago because of All Treat Farm's suggestion that we "walk the show" has resulted in a yearly presence in LO's Educational section of the congress. Many of our members now also have booths to promote their compost products and offerings. This year, the buzz was very loud that landscapers are becoming more and more interested in using compost. Pretty exciting. It gives us great hope for sometime in the near future "sold-out" possibilities for our facilities. It was also great to re-connect with fellow organizations who are advocating initiatives and programs of benefit to the "green & growing" community. It's the quick conversations with people who walk by your booth or that you meet along the way that revive things that need to be done or organize plans for the months ahead. It was great to learn that Calvin Chong from the University of Guelph was recognized by Landscape Ontario with an Award of Excellence for his long-time research focus on wastewater run-off, nutrient recycling and organic residuals management. Dr. Chong has contributed greatly to composting research and has been ever responsive to our Council's pleas for help. Am so delighted for him. And equally proud of Mark Heaton of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and his spearheading of Garden Ecotopia, a Canada Blooms initiative last year that was supported by some of our members: the Region of Peel and Miller Composting as well as our Council. Mark was also recognized and applauded by Landscape Ontario with an Award of Excellence. Terrific and well done. Speaking of Canada Blooms --- this year's show is from March 12th - 16th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. http://www.canadablooms.com/ If in the area, everyone should plan to go to the show on the Friday (March 14th) so that you can also come to our fundraiser for Plant a Row - Grow a Row that night at the Steamwhistle Brewery. This will be the first time that we will include a "d" in this annual fun-raising event. We have some enthusiastic people who have volunteered their time to party-plan the evening. It holds the promise of great fun and an important source of funds for Plant a Row - Grow a Row this year.]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2008/01/reaching_out_to_the_landscapin.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2008/01/reaching_out_to_the_landscapin.htm Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:35:11 -0500 It has been beyond an eternity since I have focused on an entry here. The time in between today and then has been one that has been an intense privilege to experience. Some designations are freely used in introductions such as "environmentalist", "engineer", "writer", "politician" or whatever to connote stature or rank in the scope of care. But ultimately and bottom-line, we are all just humans marching to the beat of life, opportunities and issues that we face.... and our everyday actions show our commitment to our titles or causes and beliefs. It is not the good days but the ones rather that challenge us that show our true metal, integrity and ability to realize that we walk on this planet for only a very short time and that our time, especially when we live in a country as rich and abundant as Canada, must be made to count. Last year, I had the privilege to be in places of abandonment and war, to witness the willingness to achieve short-term gain at the risk of damaging long-term viability, to see the passing of quick judgement based on titles versus recognition of individual and collective integrity. To find out (sadly) once again who really cares and who are willing to watch things ride.... and then who, will readily pass judgement without having had any real-life experience of "walking a day in the shoes of those who are trying...." It is really amazing that people would devote their entire adult life to paying attention to "discarded" organics and using them to make things better. Their belief and commitment is so powerful and basic that the many hurdles and barriers that are flung in their path have, time & time again, been mere stepping stones to reach their goals. Shame on those who sit on the sidelines. And shame on those who, if they have the means, can't allocate the time or interest to help move visions forward. http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2008/01/it_has_been_beyond_an.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2008/01/it_has_been_beyond_an.htm Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:37:32 -0500 Put the 3Rs first: Develop a comprehensive study fo the current provincial waste stream with a provincial waste reduction target of 60% by 2012. Ah. Come on. The whole country had a 50% diversion objective by the Year 2000. Only Nova Scotia hit it. Ontario then re-stated the diversion objective to 60% by the Year 2008. It is not going to be met. And now enviro-groups are going to "allow" a re-statement of the same objective, changing the timeline to 2012? The evening got even better when each of the parties (Liberal, NDP, Conservatives, Green) focused their "waste" vision totally on Producer Responsibility and bashing packaging excesses. Not one of them focused on the fact that organics make up close to 50% of the "waste" stream and that the solution to all diversion targets will be found when a comprehensive strategy for organics residuals recovery is the focus. Not one political party said anything. And the 13 enviro-groups did not much better. We have so much work still to do. ]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/10/it_has_been_ever_so_1.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/10/it_has_been_ever_so_1.htm Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:15:44 -0500 Promoting green awareness Sell people the idea, says Ed Mirvish "The things that I am dealing in are immediate; people use them right now so it's much easier to sell. But you are selling an idea. You are selling people the future." And so it began. A conversation with a neighbour, a recipient of the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), an hour with a modest man, time well-spent with the legendary Ed Mirvish. Our paths crossed a few years ago when he allowed us (The Composting Council of Canada) to collect the flowers around his theatre that were left in memory of a special princess. We were able to take them to be composted rather than have them needlessly thrown away. We got together again the following spring and planted a tree at Allan Gardens using the finished compost to prepare the soil for planting. At that event, he encouraged everyone to compost, saying "To get something from nothing, now that's a bargain." It was a clever phrase that struck a chord for a cause that we were (and still are) passionately involved in. I've thought of that moment many times since and marvelled at his marketing talents. What a gift it would be if they could be used to make everyone more environmentally respectful and action-oriented. And so, when the opportunity came to write this column, I called to see if we could meet again and chat about how, if he were selling care for the environment as a product, he would turn it into something that everyone would want to buy. "It is easier to sell bread today when someone is hungry than to sell an idea to people," he started off. "You have quite a job ahead of you but somebody has to do it and it is important that it be done. But it's much more difficult to sell. People don't look into the distance; they only see today, the immediate, and that is the difficult part." Mirvish explained the difficulty, but importance, of investing "in the future. But people do it all the time -- they buy insurance. So I think that the thing is to get the message across and to get everyone involved." "If you do your part, the public does theirs," he continued. "The public responds if you have something that interests them." ....Mirvish boosted my hope that we can individually and collectively make a difference. "You can't force things on people," he said. "But if it makes sense and it is rewarding for them, they will respond." Mirvish noted, "The world has changed. Where people used to be very concerned about saving money, they are not that particular today. Now, I think that people are more interested in saving their time. It is everyone's most valuable possession." And so, we have to make caring for the environment rewarding and fun. It can't be the "Recycle or Die" message that will make all of us want to do something. Rather, the focus has to be on providing ways to do something positive for the environment and for ourselves. Providing opportunities that make all of us feel good about our actions and our contribution to a greener world. One step at a time. One action that, once conquered and incorporated into our day's routine, will lead to us wanting to do more. For instance, starting with the recycling of certain materials and then adding more to the bin. And then, starting to turn out the lights when you are not in the room. Or not running the tap when you are brushing your teeth. Little things. Baby steps. But all meaningful. And all that capture the power of one and make a big impact when multiplied by many. Mirvish started off with a litte storefront and turned it into a huge empire of fun, bargains and entertainment. We can do the same for the good of the environment. One person and one household at a time. One positive environmental action after another. For us. For our future. And for others that will follow. Written for The Annex Gleaner, March 2003 ]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/07/the_passing_of_a_friend_and_su.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/07/the_passing_of_a_friend_and_su.htm Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:32:03 -0500 Dixie Chicks song are ringing true to the situation that we are currently facing in Ontario. What a horrendous disservice that a pending election and the need for environmental headlines could potentially dismantle the long-term sustainability of composting in this province. Perhaps right now, it would be considered foolish to divulge the details on this blog. But it will eventually surface. For the time being, it is constant on our mind and in our efforts. ]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/07/lyrics_that_ring_true.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/07/lyrics_that_ring_true.htm Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:02:21 -0500 I intensely hate goodbyes. Perhaps it’s because the folks who I am now the closest to generally live far away. And when I get to see them, I don’t like to see the end of another visit or get-together. About a week ago, at the end of a celebratory lunch, Herb Noseworthy said “toodle-loo” to me and that was much easier to take. Herb, recently retired from Norseman Plastics, has a house-chores list that is gradually getting completed. And by mid-to-late July, he is heading towards the Philippines and other Eastern locations. He has a return ticket available for use within the year and an email address that will enable him to provide updates when internet access, a power supply and the interest makes it convenient. Good on Herb. And how fortunate for composting that he devoted so much of his time and efforts to promote backyard composting and curbside green bin collection programs through the products he and his team so ably created and represented. When asked, he thought that they have distributed well over 2 million backyard composters and many additional millions of green bins and kitchen collectors to-date. And while most of them have been sales, he was always generous to our Council’s efforts. What now seems like many years ago, we once got into a horsetrade situation that enabled our Council to have the funds for Composting Week. A discontinued product donation that otherwise was destined for landfill became our trade-for-cash which saved both the day as well as our week. And, like so many of his direct competitors as well as the wide range of companies and organizations who have helped build the composting industry in Canada, our national conference planning was always made a little easier when we got his team’s “yes, we want to exhibit at your conference” nod each year. These type of things don’t make headline news but they do help make our world go round, allowing things to get done to keep composting and our Council moving forward. And so when a chapter closes, it is always good to take a grateful pause for a moment to acknowledge the magnificence of the achievements, celebrating past successes and hoping for future possibilities of having paths cross again. http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/06/a_case_for_au_revoir.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/06/a_case_for_au_revoir.htm Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:39:54 -0500 Recyc-Québec, the Ville de Montréal and the Quebec Interdisciplinary Ornamental Horticulture Federation (FIHOQ). A train ride to Windsor today, a super visit to the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority and a chat with Todd, Cam and Ralph about their compost program and issues that need to move forward to advance “the cause”. (How great Todd Pepper was to accommodate the meeting, being only 24 hours away from a trip to Sri Lanka to help a community over there with their waste management issues. GO COMPOSTING!) Tomorrow, we have a morning meeting in Guelph to talk about the “organics” issue that our Government of Canada has dealt us… and a trip later that evening to Moncton for a Friday meeting about our National Conference, to be held in September (19th – 21st as a matter of fact – please plan to attend ---- with the 18th being an optional trip to PEI for a compost facility tour and a round of golf). Friday will also involve a trip to both the composting facility at the Westmorland-Albert Solid Waste Management Corporation as well as the Greater Moncton Sewerage Commission. And then we’ll meet up with Rod & Caroline Fry and drive to East River, Nova Scotia for a Compost Celebration on Saturday involving Envirem Technologies and Louisiana Pacific. There have been 2 birthdays in the office this week that have missed their “lunch & cake” (at least for the office part of their lives) and my little 4-legged girl, Christie, has insisted on a couple of extra walks-to-the-office in the early morning with me, knowing full well that packed luggage or "getting suited up" is a sign of going away. And everyone on our team is pulling together --- Danielle and Maité doing lots of heavy lifting, supported in the wings by Tyrone, Shannon, Michaela and Dana, with Bouchra having left last week to get big business experience before heading back to France. Our 2 summer students, Ashley & Sabrina, are hyped and fitting in to the groove and the charm of our office (also known as Bart, Tucker and Christie --- our very own canine-doorbell/”it’s the courier”-sound machine, uniquely created ‘cause 3 of us have dogs that come to work with us). We are making it up as we go along … that’s what happens when new paths need to be blazed. We got agreement for a vegetable garden-composting-compost-Un Rang pour ceux qui ont faim display at FLORA, an outdoor garden event that is held from mid-June to Labour Day in Old Montreal. An amazing opportunity for our efforts in Quebec. We have a beyond-fun series of displays planned for the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver this August. We are moving forward with plans for our meadow garden dream at the Roxton Road Parkette, having received support from the Phoenix Community Foundation and the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation (goodness, when do I tell my parents that we are going to be doing this? This is high potential parental-flipping material. This parkette is located on their street and it has been left virtually untouched since the street began its housing development in the early, early 1900s. It must be one of the last remaining pieces of undeveloped land in the downtown Toronto core. And it’s on my parents’ street. Here we are doing these community garden projects all over the place and I drive up the street and see this forgotten treasure … sitting at “the doorstep”. Extra personal (and parental – when they find out) pressure to make sure that it turns out great.) And so a week happens. Emails, phone calls, persuading, commenting, listening, suggesting, learning, faxing, getting mad, breathing deep and trying to make sure that no one sees you sweat. And with all that is good, there is much that is not. I love the fact that the environment is a high priority issue right now. And I hate it because it is bringing out lots of not-nice-things at the same time. ]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/06/this_is_a_week_of.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/06/this_is_a_week_of.htm Wed, 06 Jun 2007 22:38:11 -0500 Just when you think that you have started to experience “it all”, you get thrown a curve that is so beyond incredulous and potentially damaging for our efforts that you start to laugh in spite of yourself. Under the column of “what were they thinking?” as well as the column “who lobbied whom?”, we have unexpectedly learned that we have lost the use the word of the term, “organic”, in Canada. Super. Some will fault us for not being aware of the initiative undertaken by the Canadian General Standards Board to establish a standard for those who decide to use “organic” as a claim for their product. But in the column of “misery loves company”, I’m glad that our staff as well as the Council is joined with every provincial and territorial ministry of the environment as well as agricultural… heck --- every premier and his/her government, every municipality and every business enterprise who is building a new way-of-life and an organization to encourage the diversion of organics from landfill and their transformation into compost for added environmental and agronomic benefits. If you bought into the thought that Canada was a democratic system and that there are processes in place to engage interest groups in public consultation efforts, etc., you would have believed that somewhere along the way, our Council or one of our many members or even the non-members of our Council but players in the organics recovery efforts would have been alerted to the fact that the word “organic” was in play and that we had better gear up to get our voice and position heard. But no. Our recent survey indicated that, through organics recovery and composting, we recover about 4 million tonnes of “waste” materials and transforming them into a value-added organic-based product – compost – instead of being buried in the landfills across Canada. Those 4 million tonnes of organic materials represent 12% of the overall Canadian waste stream. 12%. And now our education and communication messages as well as the labels and messages of all those involved in the organics recovery business will need to re-jig our efforts so that we eliminate the use of the word, “organic”. Good stuff. We get limited attention on any political front. We definitely don’t get adequate attention re: program priority. And now we have lost our rallying cry. We can’t use the word, organic, unless we apply for certification. At the Council, we have tried to eliminate the word, “waste” when we speak about organics. As in … let’s not say “organic waste”, let’s use the phrase “organic resources” to denote the value associated with scooping those organics out of the waste bin and putting them in a compost bin, green bin, compostable or plastic or paper bag or whatever else container that will ensure their destination to a composting process. We also speak sternly and react strongly when folks use the 4-letter word that ends with –uck … and starts with “y”. Not even the worst marketers of consumer products lead with negatives. But all our re-orienting of the dictionaries and thesauruses in the world pale in comparison with the regulatory “acumen” that has been passed to restrict composting efforts in Canada from using the word, “organic”, in our messages and product descriptions. Kind of makes me terribly glad that our members, our Council and our staff have taken the “easy” way to help build a new waste-resource mindset to build composting’s credibility and acceptance in Canada, take 12% of the landfill-destined “waste” stream and convert them in to value-added products of environmental and agronomic benefit. And just when you wondered if there was still enough “fight” left amongst the “organics recovery warriors” …. http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/05/a_rose_by_any_other_name.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/05/a_rose_by_any_other_name.htm Thu, 31 May 2007 12:48:44 -0500 On Friday, the Region of Peel officially opened their new Composting Facility, destined to compost the organic resources from about 280,000 households in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, Ontario. On Friday, the City of Calgary recommended that the organics residuals collection program proposed for 2009 implementation be put on hold. And thus ... we celebrate and mourn at the same time. 280,000 households are given the curbside-collection-means to be environmentally responsible. 330,000 households are not. One city identifies composting as a priority; another faces the political pressure of a Fall election and the potential ire of the taxpayer and voter... and has the benefit of a 30+ year life left in their nearby landfills. Perhaps the voters for this decision should be the "10 years and under" age-group of Calgarians --- who, among other enviro-issues brought about by not being mindful of the benefits of composting and compost usage, will be living with the Calgary landfill crisis of 2037 ... and wondering the real merits of Friday's recommendation. http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/03/the_high_the_low_of_the_life_o.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/03/the_high_the_low_of_the_life_o.htm Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:34:14 -0500 Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators (AMRC) in the Region of Durham in early April. Canada Blooms and our Garden Ecotopia (this year known as "Backyard Ecotopia") has now become a beyond glorious memory. I already miss our magical garden that was created by many hands and organizations, all focused on helping to show how being mindful of the environment doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice beauty in the garden --- you can have both at the same time. The crowds at Canada Blooms were amazing ... line-ups to see our display were almost constant. Thank goodness for our many volunteers and the group of organizations who banded together. The composter that the Region of Peel created was a great, great hit. Dave Bruno did more of his share of time at the show to help answer questions, both about backyard composting as well as the curbside organics collection program that is about to be launched in the Region. And Peter Secord of Miller Compost also spent oodles of time helping to get the display ready as well as to support Ecotopia's communication efforts. And it is equally inspiring that we are already talking about next year's display as well as working towards the intent to create a permanent Garden Ecotopia at the Toronto Zoo. Another inspiring initiative happened this week, thanks to an invite from the folks at the CN Tower to contribute to the events of their March break activities. They have just launched a new ride, Himalamazon, and themed this past week as "EcoWeek". We created a learning activity that we called "For the Love of the Earth". It involves the "waste race", "getting to know your composter" and "soil and seeds for planting". Pam, Bouchra, Danielle, Maite and Tyrone all helped to create a lesson plan that turned out to be incredibly well-received. The folks at the CN Tower were so gracious and supportive. What an equally amazing team of people. This ties in so well with the program that we are just introducing for Plant a Row - Grow a Row ... a JUNIOR version to help teach and encourage children and their families to garden and more specifically, vegetable garden. This is going to be great for all kinds of right reasons ... it teaches a life skill, incorporates environmental understanding and action, is an inexpensive activity, builds confidence, encourages community outreach through the sharing of the harvest and studies show that children who are not that keen on vegetables become much more inclined to eat them if they have grown them themselves. I'm really excited about the many possibilities and good things that can come from Plant a Row - Grow a Row JUNIOR. Given the unexpected snowfall from last night, I guess that the leprechauns were really on our side when the tree planting with the Minister of the Environment for Ireland, The Honourable Dick Roche, did not happen today. How great it was that there was both interest and effort from Minister Roche, his staff and the Irish Embassy in Canada to try to make it happen. It's pretty exciting as we start to think about the plans for next March and, with more advance leadtime, work towards including an extra special green happening for St. Patrick's Day 2008. ]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/03/march_greenness.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/03/march_greenness.htm Sat, 17 Mar 2007 08:49:55 -0500 Canada Blooms and our Garden/Backyard Ecotopia display as well as Friday night party. The Region of Peel has built a giant compost bin that everyone can walk through and see the layers & life of a compost pile. And Miller Compost has done a gigantic job of coordinating the compost message (and many others) for the display. We will definitely be making sure that Dave Bruno (Region of Peel) and Peter Secord (Miller Compost) have their glasses always topped up at our Friday party. And then ... on the depressing side of things ... The issues in Ontario continue to be difficult. Compost, or at least a portion of it, continues to be in the definition for the Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste Regulation plan. This whole thing came totally out of left field. We have been told time and time again that compost is not "in". And yet, certain compost products continue to be captured. Everyone is so polite in the discussions. It really is beyond comprehension. Quite honestly, maybe we should just fist-fight-it-out. ]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/03/march_1st.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/03/march_1st.htm Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:36:24 -0500 Canada Blooms looms ever closer (March 7 - 11). We are finalizing the results of our 2006 National Survey of Composting Facilities, with the hopes that we can release the findings in time for Valentine's Day ("For the Love of the Earth"). I am still mad that our application for a summer student was rejected because it was not deemed a "high priority". Thank goodness for our "well, we'll just get it done anyways" attitude, some support received from Procter & Gamble as well as Tim Horton's and the diligence/determination of Gail, Ashley, Michelle, Bouchra and Maité. During the past week, we've been involved in discussions in Ontario, had updates from the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regarding their BSE management plan and have had some planning sessions for the beyond-exciting garden display initiative (Garden Ecotopia) to be presented at Canada Blooms. Miller Composting and the Region of Peel amongst others are going above and beyond in helping pull together an absolutely awesome display of environmental actions that each of us can do as we enjoy our life in the garden. Lorraine Hunter and fellow garden writers are helping us with the development of a gardening guide for children.... and we just got a call on Friday, confirming that the folks at the CNTower would like this guide and our efforts to be involved in their March break activities. Hopefully in the week ahead, we'll be able to finalize our design for this year's Compost Week (May 6 - 12). The theme for this year is: Change our Earth ... COMPOST ... pour une terre meilleure. It is always a challenge to come up with a fun/all-encompassing theme to help promote our messages. The long-standing tradition that John Bartlett & I have regarding coming up with the annual theme makes it easier to do (ie. meet, brainstorm, eat, brainstorm, drink beer ... the evening doesn't end till we get the theme done). Looking back, we've had some great themes: 1995 = The Green Wave of Recycling 1996 = For the Love of the Earth 1997 = Create a Natural Treasure 1998 = Return to your Roots 1999 = It's Your Turn 2000 = The Future Starts Here 2001 = Make a Difference 2002 = Make Magic Happen 2003 = How Does Your Garden Grow? 2004 = Be Resourceful 2005 = Starve a Landfill ... Feed your Future 2006 = Add Power to your Flowers Goodness ... that's a lot of themes (and a lot of beer that got us those themes). Thank goodness for John Bartlett. Salim Abboud told me once that someday our posters will become collectors' items. Who knows. Perhaps they might. Looking back at them brings back tons of great memories of events and people who have gone above and beyond the call to "spread the compost" message. In the week ahead, we have the Waste Diversion Ontario consultation process (it is unsettling that compost could possibly be dragged into the whole funding exercise brought about by Ontario's Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste regulation; we've been told that compost won't be designated but we need to be diligent to make sure that the "fertilizer" designation doesn't encompass compost as well), conversations scheduled concerning the nation-wide Compostable Plastic Bags certification process as well as our efforts to implement an industry protocol assessment regarding composting and the impact/influence on greenhouse gas management. Makes working Saturdays easier to take when you know that some of the work that The Council does will make a real and meaningful positive impact.]]> http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/02/saturday_saturday.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/02/saturday_saturday.htm Sat, 10 Feb 2007 14:15:11 -0500 When folks look back to analyze what happened when and why, 2007 will be identified as a turning point for our efforts --- the wake-up call brought about by the intensity of Mother Nature bringing on the force of her climate and its changes. Real people and by inference, voters, have become concerned about the state of our environment and the future of our world. That’s beyond good … just as long as we can make that concern turn into action and long-term change in environmental respectful attitude and behaviour. This past month has been frenetic as we try to shape our future based on the opportunities that we have identified and known to be rightfully ours. So many thoughts at all hours of the day and night have been racing through my head --- both about current projects as well as the ones that need to be done but still need the financial means and oomph to get them there. It is obvious that there is a lot of money out there. I see it in the deals that are starting to be made, the new folks who are starting to show up at events and the looming pre-election “air”. This is a balance-beam time for us --- to build on the momentum of today’s current “environment” and at the same time to stay true to the intent of our vision and mission ---- to advance organics residual recovery, composting and compost usage across Canada. Based on just the past number of weeks, we are living in a time when we’ll be tested … does our Council have “good bones”? ie. have we put the infrastructure in place that will enable us to grow and expand while maintaining our integrity and values? I am hopeful and believe that we do. http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/02/growing_forward.htm http://blogccr.solidwastemag.com/2007/02/growing_forward.htm Mon, 05 Feb 2007 07:58:05 -0500