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| Waste Check Club 300 |
In June 2007, Nova Scotia adopted the Environmental Goals and Prosperity Act (EGSPA). In this act, 21 goals were mandated to help protect, preserve, and sustain a clean and healthy environment in our province. One of the goals listed is to reduce the solid waste disposal rate to no more than 300 kilograms per person per year by 2015.
The EGSPA is a continuation of Nova Scotia’s progress in being recognized as a world leader in Solid Waste Management. It all began in 1995 when Nova Scotia introduced the Solid Waste-Resource Management Strategy, which included a long list of items banned from landfills. In order to make it easier to manage the waste, Nova Scotia was divided into 7 regions. We are the Western Region, Region 7, consisting of four Municipalities (Yarmouth, Digby, Argyle and Clare) and two towns (Yarmouth and Digby). Waste Check is in charge of implementing programs and services in Region 7, as well educating the public on how to properly sort and reduce their waste.
After the original EGSPA was introduced, Waste Check customized the provincially set goal of 300kg per person per year by 2015 and challenged Region 7 residents to be able to reduce their waste to 300 kg per person per year by 2013. This new goal displayed our Region’s desire to reduce our impact on the environment and be the Province’s leader by example.
All of your hard work is paying off! Waste Check once again holds the title of being the best Region in the Province, with an incredible disposal rate of only 292 kg/person/year for the year 2012! Considering the average Nova Scotian disposes of 394 kg per year!
Everyone in our Region is doing a phenomenal job, and we want to be able to recognize those who are going above and beyond to help us reach our goal! To help us down the road to 300kgs, Waste Check is happy to introduce a public recognition program called the Waste Check 300 Club!
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What is Club 300?
The Waste Check Club 300 recognizes groups, organizations, or individuals that are doing their part in helping us support our 300 kg per person per year goal! Aside from great Waste Management Practices, inductees are doing a little something extra that is also making a difference. From excellent waste management practices to spreading waste reduction awareness, Club 300 Members deserve to be acknowledged and rewarded for their efforts. We hope that their dedication and determination will help inspire other Region 7 residents to take part in additional waste reduction activities as well!
All Waste Check Club 300 Members are leaders themselves. What they do for their community–and in turn, our Region and our Province–is helping to spread awareness of the importance of waste reduction. We hope that others will follow the example of the Club 300 Members, and do something more than just participate in the waste separation programs. Take pride in your Region, and your Province! We have come so far in the field of Solid Waste Management, but there is always room for improvement! A little effort can go a long way, and your help will make a difference!
All Members will be awarded with a certificate of recognition from Waste Check, as a Thank You for all their hard work. We want everyone to recognize what these groups, organizations, and individuals are doing to help out, so their stories will be advertised as well! Their passion and diligence will not go unnoticed, and we hope that everyone living in Nova Scotia will be as Thankful for their efforts as we are! Step-by-step we are making a difference and with a little extra help we can all enjoy the healthiest and cleanest environment in all of Canada, and perhaps the World!
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Meteghan Lions Club
The Meteghan Lions Club has been inducted into the Waste Check Club 300 for going above and beyond in their efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Proper separation containers are provided on site so the members can separate all their waste easily and efficiently, even during all the functions held at the Club, such as Monday Night Bingos. They are members of the Adopt a Highway Program, where they clean up litter from a 6.5km stretch of roadsides. They recycle all ordinary waste, but also make the extra effort to recycle, reuse, or donate used eye glasses, shoes, old BBQs, pop can tabs, tin, old stamps, car batteries, and more. Another way they divert waste away from the landfill is they provide an on–site yard sale table, which is very popular! People can purchase and sell items there, instead of throwing them away–sometimes there are even appliances available for purchase. The Meteghan Lions Club has also designated a position within the Club to be responsible for most of the recycling. This position belongs to Ron Saulnier who is a diligent, hard–working, and enthusiastic recycler! The Janitor also participates and does a good job with waste separation. Their recycling efforts have helped them fundraise a generous amount of money, approximately $1200 annually. The money that they fundraise is put towards purchasing meals for schools. Their recycling programs have been in place in excess of 8 years! A big thank you to the Meteghan Lions Club for all the wonderful things they do for the environment and their community!
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Debra–Dawn Megeney
NSCC Digby Campus – Debra-Dawn Megeney
Waste Check would like to welcome Debra–Dawn Megeney to the Club 300! Deb promotes waste reduction awareness through her work at NSCC Digby Campus. She is a stellar example of someone living green. She promotes to her children the concept of the three R’s when buying toys. Buying second hand or the product with less packaging is the more favorable option. Deb and her family live off–grid, thus saving greenhouse gas emissions from harming the environment. Deb has embraced the waste management system at the Digby Campus. She takes immense pride in double sorting the waste and sorting it right! At waste audit time, she wants her waste to be as well sorted as possible! Deb ensures that the students and staff at the campus are well educated in the waste management protocol.
It has been an honour and privilege to work with Deb. She is a true champion for the environment. Because of people like her, we have had success in reducing and diverting waste, and have been able to reach our goals. Thank you Deb for all of your hard work and dedication!
Welcome to the club!
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| Members |
Cheryl Burchell
Gert Sweeney
Dave Arenburg
TREPA
Yarmouth Life Skills
Karen Thimot
Barton Consolidated School
Stephen Sollows
Carol LeBlanc
Digby Wesleyan Church
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Helen Paddock
Emilia Williams
Jean Melanson
Weymouth Consolidated School
The Shanty Café
Stewart Sweeney
Larry Kelly
Kenneth d’Entremont
Holly Morton
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To learn ways to reduce waste in your business, school, or organization
check out our Leaders By Example Video series. Click here...
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Click here for a copy of the Club 300 Nomination form...
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Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Yarmouth is going above and beyond in their waste management practices! Waste separation bins are placed all throughout their Church and hall for public use. Anyone who rents out their hall must participate in sorting their waste and use the bins that are in place. Also, at any event in the Church, reusable dishes and dinnerware are used as opposed to using disposable products which generate a lot of waste. All correspondence from the Church, such as newsletters and notifications, are done electronically instead of printing the information to reduce paper waste. Members of the Church have also participated in roadside litter clean–ups in their community. This is a great way to promote the waste reduction message! Thank you to the Holy Trinity Anglican Church for all your hard work and dedication!
Geraldine Amirault and her "O2" (Options and Opportunities) class at Digby Regional High School have been inducted into the Waste Check Club 300 for their amazing efforts in cleaning up our environment. The O2 class is designed for students to get more hands–on learning experiences in various career fields. Waste Check partnered with Geraldine, Heather Sullivan, and their O2 class to clean up an active illegal dumpsite in the Municipality of Digby. The students received a presentation from Waste Check on waste diversion and the effects of illegal dumping on agriculture before the clean-up took place. It was obvious how keen both the students and the teachers were about helping their environment. Although it was hard work, the students were happy to have participated in the clean-up. Over 6,000 pounds of garbage was cleaned up and removed from the dumpsite by the students! This kind of dedication and enthusiasm from Geraldine, Heather, and the whole O2 class has earned them a spot in Waste Check’s Club 300!
Colin O’Connell has been inducted into Waste Check’s Club 300 for his participation in reducing marine waste and for his support of the Ship to Shore program. Through this program, Colin acquired a set of separation bins for use on his fishing boat. After using these bins for a short period of time, Colin realized what a difference they had made. The bins have helped tremendously cut down on the amount of waste that ended up overboard and into the ocean. All the waste from Colin’s boat is brought back to shore and disposed of properly. Without the bins, Colin says he would not have been aware of how much waste they generated on the boat. Colin provided a wonderful testimonial about the bins and is pleased with their eye–opening effect. Colin is a first–hand witness on how much waste can be prevented from going into the ocean. It was a learning experience for him, but now his story and example can inspire other fishermen to stop marine waste pollution as well!
Larry Deveau has been involved in waste management programs for many years. He is an active participant in the marine waste program, Ship–to–Shore, and has also been an integral member of Waste Check’s Strategic Planning Committee. Larry is environmentally–minded and has been actively involved with environmental programs and committees throughout his career. Through his work, Larry has had the opportunity to promote waste reduction and diversion awareness. Larry is a great addition to the Waste Check Club 300, as he is a wonderful example for others to look up to. Waste Check is thankful for his dedication to helping the environment and helping us meet our goals!
Warren Paton, who is a retired teacher at Digby Regional High School, takes many initiatives to help improve and maintain the environment. Warren has gone above and beyond to help us meet our waste management goals. He promotes waste reduction awareness by organizing litter clean–ups that help remove waste from roadsides in Digby communities. He is also passionate about the protection of local marshlands and endangered species. Warren’s enthusiasm for environmental awareness makes him a great fit for Waste Check’s Club 300!
Helen Ivens strives to instill the importance of waste diversion to her students in her Grade Primary–1 class at Islands Consolidated School. Helen’s students have always been encouraged to participate in the Nova Scotia Recycles Contest which allows the students to win great prizes, while also learning about recycling and composting. Helen is keen about teaching her students about the environment. She has invited Waste Check into her classroom to help ensure the kids know all about waste separation. Some other initiatives include rinsing refundables and returning them for a deposit to buy extra supplies or activities for the class, such as art supplies or class trips! She also rinses the milk containers, pudding and yogurt cups for recycling. The students in Helen’s class have worked hard to do their part, and we hope their efforts inspire other students to become champions in recycling as well!
Beacon United Church is a great fit for Waste Check’s Club 300. Green initiatives are part of their everyday activities. They promote waste reduction awareness and encourage the members of their church and all those who attend events at Beacon United Church to sort their waste. They have proper separation containers for the public to use, they have signs posted around the church reminding people to turn off the lights before leaving a room to save energy, and they also have a beautiful community garden on their grounds. The community garden has become a popular feature for Beacon United Church. People or groups from the community can adopt a plot in this garden. Food waste from the full time daycare and other groups at Beacon Church is being composted right on site and, in turn, that compost is being used on the garden. It is a full circle system that reduces waste and environmental impacts. We want to thank Beacon United Church for going above and beyond for the environment and making our waste reduction message part of their daily routines!
As the teacher of Global Geography at the Digby Community Education Centre, Maxine MacLean goes above and beyond to ensure her students are aware of our Region’s waste separation programs. On various occasions, she has invited Waste Check into her classroom to hold info sessions for her students. This allows us to promote our waste reduction message to help us reach our diversion goals. She also organizes and participates in litter clean-ups with her class. This shows her dedication to the environment, and enthusiasm for teaching her students about the significance of preserving natural resources. As part of her Global Geography program, she wants her students to know all about waste separation and how it reduces environmental impacts. Her involvement and support is important to the success of our waste diversion goals, and she is a great example for others to follow. Maxine is a very deserving member of Waste Check’s Club 300! Thank you!
Irene Nickerson is a very caring resident in our Region who is dedicated to doing the right thing when it comes to waste separation. Her unwavering support of our waste separation programs does not go unnoticed, and we greatly appreciate her devotion. Irene makes no excuses when it comes to sorting her waste. She takes the time to call Waste Check with any questions about what items go where to ensure she is recycling right! Irene makes sorting a part of her every day routine, and says if she can do it, anyone can! We hope that others will see what Irene does for the environment, and will do the right thing as well. Thank you Irene for all your good work!
The Conway Workshop Association has been inducted into the Waste Check Club 300 for their efforts in waste separation and reduction within their organization. The Conway Workshop Association is an approved EPRA (Electronic Products Recycling Association) drop–off location. Most residents that come in to drop off electronics also ask other questions about waste separation, so the staff at the Conway Workshop also provide additional support and information to help them out. They also promote the importance of reducing waste and helping the environment to all of their clients on a daily basis! They have a centralized sorting station in the building with clear labels and open bins where the clients can go to sort their waste. They have one client who looks after the recycling and she takes pride in her work. They even take the time to separate paper towels from washing hands in the bathroom to put in the green cart instead of in the garbage! Clients also take part in constructing wooden waste bins for residents to buy for their homes. These bins help contain the waste the put out to curbside, which can cut down on litter. Thank you to the Conway Workshop Association for going above and beyond in their waste management!
Hubert Saulnier is a fisherman who is dedicated to being environmentally–conscious while out at sea. Hubert participated in a Clean Nova Scotia program, "Ship to Shore", which provided him with waste separation bins to put aboard his boat. These bins allow waste to be sorted easily and efficiently on the boat. Hubert is an enthusiastic recycler, and he wants people to know that fishermen are working to make a difference as well. He understands the harm that marine waste can cause, and wants to spread awareness about the issue. Hubert deserves to be acknowledged for his devotion to keeping waste out of the ocean, recycling waste on board, and making an effort to address the effects of marine waste! Thank you for your commitment to helping protect the planet and helping us meet our environmental goals!
Helene Deveau is keen on keeping her environment clean! Helene takes the time to clean up litter from roadsides in her community. Her hard work helps cut down on pollution and keeps her neighbourhood looking clean and healthy. She is passionate about curbing the unsightly littering of trash, and through her clean–ups, she is spreading awareness about the littering problems in Nova Scotia. We thank her for going above and beyond to clean–up the litter. Helene’s dedication to protecting the environment and her community is worthy of recognition, and hopefully she will inspire others to take part in cleaning up litter as well! Thank you for all that you do!
Terry Robertson, a teacher at Plymouth School, is very enthusiastic about composting! Terry collects organic waste from the classrooms at the school and brings it home for his backyard composting. He has a diligent system for composting that even includes worms for vermicomposting! Backyard composting is a great way to divert waste and help the environment. Terry uses the nutrient–rich compost on his gardens at home. In addition, aside from promoting proper waste diversion in his own class, he also educates other students at the school about the importance and process of backyard composting. Terry’s efforts are helping make a difference and he is helping us meet our environmental goals. Thank you!
Linda and Roger Hubbard are being inducted into our Waste Check Club 300 for their dedication to keeping their environment clean. On their walks through their community, Linda and Roger take the time to pick up litter and garbage that has been dumped in their area. They have picked up everything from take–out food containers, to tires, to full bags of garbage! Since learning about Waste Check’s various programs, they have been able to work with us to help put a stop to illegal dumping. They have seen a significant decrease in the amount of garbage being littered on their roads. Their cooperation and support has led to a positive change for the environment! We are always pleased to see residents who make an additional effort and generously take the time to clean up litter in their community. It is people like Linda and Roger who are making a difference and are helping us reach our waste reduction goals!
Donald Duffy played an important role in "greening" the Festival Acadien de Clare last summer. He worked with Waste Check through the Event Greening program to get the proper bins for the Festival. He also made the additional effort to sort all the waste after the event so that there were no recyclables or other divertible materials in the garbage. Beyond the Festival, Donald is a good recycler. He also diverts waste by donating useable items to various people or organizations. People in his community will give him their unwanted items, such as glass, dishes, and clothes, and he will find the right place to bring them or donate them to people in need. Thank you Donald for your work!
The NSCC Burridge Campus Sustainability Committee has been meeting regularly to discuss environmental issues and initiatives for the last few years. The committee has worked hard to address subjects such as waste separation, energy efficiency, and special events including Earth Day activities. The Committee members are dedicated to making the campus "green" wherever possible. As a result of the Committee’s work, the Burridge Campus has come a long way with their waste separation and diversion. They have made outstanding efforts to make waste separation as easy as possible for their staff and students, and have come up with fun and inspiring ways to incorporate environmental activities into their student programs. A greenhouse and compost bins were built on campus to be used as part of a closed loop composting program. Food waste from the cafeteria is put out into the compost bins, the food waste turns into compost which is then put on garden beds in the greenhouse to grow vegetables. The food produced from the gardens benefit the students and staff on campus. This is a great example of how the Committee promotes eco–efficiency at the school. The Committee keeps the students up to date with information on environmental and sustainability efforts at the school via their "Green" bulletin board postings. The Committee also put together a creative recycling themed float for last year’s Christmas Parade in Yarmouth! Thank you to the NSCC Sustainability Committee for going above and beyond to reduce their environmental impacts and help us sustain our goals!
The PAL Ladies at Foyer Sigogne in Salmon River have been inducted into the Waste Check Club 300 for all the great work they do. This group collects pillow cases and fabric remnants to makes dresses, shorts, and clothing to send to children in Haiti. Not only does this reduce waste here, but it also helps communities overseas. Their dedication and hard work is truly making a difference in children’s lives, and also promoting the message to appreciate what you have and reuse whenever possible. By collecting donations of fabrics from the public, they are keeping these materials out of the landfill and giving them a new life. We value their devotion and would like to thank them for everything they do!
Linda Stephen and Gary Price are inducted into the Waste Check Club 300 for their efforts in upcycling and waste diversion. Linda and Gary see value in items that other people have thrown away. They enjoy fixing up old products that are no longer useable and giving them a new life. They are also good at giving new purpose to disposable materials. For example, they made a wood storage shed completely out of old pallets. They’ve even designed it to house the wood splitter as well. They are passionate about re-purposing and reusing to avoid sending anything to landfill – if there’s an alternative, then they will find it! Anything that they cannot use themselves, give to friends, or sell, they make sure is all donated to local charities. Thank you for your dedication and welcome to Club 300!
Ginny Smith has been inducted into the Waste Check Club 300 for her commitment to helping the environment. Ginny is an active member of the Tusket River Environmental Protection Association (TREPA), and participates in litter clean-ups on a regular basis. She keeps her community clean by removing litter from roadsides while out on her runs. She has also taken part in various litter and illegal dumpsite clean-ups with Waste Check, while representing TREPA. Ginny is keen on teaching our younger generations to respect the planet and help out whenever possible. We thank Ginny for her hard work and her devotion to protecting our environment!
A big thank you and welcome to the Club 300 goes to Jim and Maritza Adams of the Municipality of Digby. Jim and Maritza actively work with Waste Check to help keep our community clean. Because of their assistance and cooperation, numerous illegal dumpsites have been addressed and cleaned. Littering and illegal dumping are detrimental to the beautiful woods and landscapes of Nova Scotia, so we greatly thank those who help rectify these issues. Extra effort goes a long way, and we appreciate the support for our waste management programs. Thank you Jim and Maritza for your dedication to the environment!
Glen Atwood has been inducted into the Club 300 as a thank you for his support and dedication as a citizen representative on the Waste Check Authority Board over the years. Glen has been an integral part of the development and success of Waste Check and our goals since the beginning. Glen has been a good advocate for our waste management programs and has helped promote our educational messages. We want Glen to know that his loyalty is appreciated. Welcome to the Club 300!
Port Maitland Consolidated Elementary School has been inducted in to Waste Check Club 300 for all their great initiatives! They have a very enthusiastic Environment Club which comprised of 35 students. The club members collect and rinse any containers for recycling, complete playground clean-ups and collect classroom compost every Friday. Other initiatives include: individual printers have been removed from classrooms to save on paper and ink; the kitchen staff buys in bulk instead of individual packages; real plates, glasses and cutlery are used in the cafeteria; milk cartons have been save and reused for various projects; and all teachers make proper sorting a priority and teach the children how to do it. One of the most significant waste reduction initiatives has been the change in the lunch schedule. The students now play first and eat later. This has prevented a very substantial amount of waste from being thrown away. The students and staff at PMCES year after year continue to do an excellent job with sorting their waste and instilling in their students and staff an attitude of caring and respect for the environment. Congratulations!
Waste Check would like to welcome Christian Surette to the Club 300! Christian promotes waste reduction awareness through his work at NSCC Burridge Campus on the Sustainability Committee, and his work at home. Christian supports our waste separation programs and helps share our message throughout the campus. At home, Christian is handy at making ":upcycled": projects, such as a beautiful snowman he made from old bike tire rims last Christmas. Because of people like Christian, we have had success in reducing and diverting waste, and have been able to reach our goals. Thank you Christian!
Glen Comeau has been inducted into the Waste Check Club 300 for his environmental work at the NSCC Burridge Campus in Yarmouth, and for his dedication to spreading the word about waste separation and waste reduction awareness. Glen has been instrumental in getting the NSCC Burridge Campus on board with waste separation and has implemented programs to help them be successful, such as the double-sorting of waste. Waste Check would like to thank Glen for all his hard work, as he is truly making a difference and is leading the way in waste diversion!
Brenda Levy Tate has been inducted into the Waste Check Club 300 for her commitment to protecting the environment. Brenda is a dedicated resident who spends her spare time cleaning up litter and garbage from roadsides in her community. Brenda has also been diligently keeping an eye on various illegal dumpsites and providing information about these areas to the right people. As a result, large illegal dumpsites have been cleaned and are now being monitored. Brenda has a strong appreciation for nature and the environment and would like to see our province preserved and respected. Thank you Brenda, for going above and beyond to promote awareness and taking the time to address the issues that other people may not see. Welcome to Club 300!
Waste Check welcomes Linda Elliott to the Club 300 for all her hard work towards helping the environment. Linda is a member of Freeport Community Development Association and the current President of the Women’s Institute. Both organizations have adopted a portion of Highway 217 from the Freeport ferry up to the Balancing Rock. The Adopt-A-Highway program includes cleaning up litter from the roadsides of the areas chosen. Linda is recognized in her community for her efforts to clean-up litter and also help curb illegal dumping whenever possible. Thank you, Linda, for doing your part and encouraging others to do join in as well!