Letter to the Editor

Tomorrow is Earth Day

Editor:

Sunday, April 22 is Earth Day. It's a time to reflect on the things each of us can do to protect the environment.

With so many serious environmental challenges facing us - from climate change and smog to water protection and waste management - you may sometimes wonder what you can do to make things better. Or if your efforts to make a difference actually pay off.

The answer is an emphatic "yes." When we take small steps and make daily choices that are good for the environment, we're all chipping in on a larger solution.

And one of the most effective ways we can help is by ensuring we're recycling all we can.

Ontarians have already made the Blue Box a big success. Now, it's time to make a good thing even better by adding "Bag it Back" to our recycling efforts.

This new deposit return program, which began February 5, puts a value of 10 or 20 cents on containers for wine, spirits or beer purchased at the LCBO, Ontario wineries or distilleries. It applies to all beverage alcohol containers over 100 mL and includes glass and plastic bottles, Tetra Paks and aluminium cans.

People can then "Bag it back" and return the empty containers to The Beer Store for a full refund.

The goal of the program is to capture 85 per cent of empty beverage alcohol containers and turn them into high-end products, like new glass bottles, fibreglass insulation, fleece clothing and glazes for ceramic tiles.

Removing alcohol containers from the municipal waste stream will free up a lot more space in Blue Boxes, which will allow recycling programs to expand.

By reducing the amount of waste going into landfill, we are all helping to support a healthier, more sustainable environment.

Every day all of us make dozens of decisions that can have an effect on the environment - for better or worse.

With more than 12 million people in Ontario, the positive effects of good decisions can really add up.

So, instead of feeling overwhelmed by our environmental challenges, let's take those small steps that will add up to a cleaner, greener, more sustainable future.

Laurel Broten, MPP,
Ontario Environment Minister

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