Credit: Victoria Reay via Flickr

Due to the growing demand in finding a location to drop off old electronics known as e-waste, the province announced today several depots where Manitobans can bring their material.

Items such as TVs, VCRs, stereos, microwaves, phones, computer equipment, laptops, printers, scanners, fax machines and copiers are just some of the items being accepted at these new depots to be recycled.

Beginning tomorrow, Manitobans will have access to 30 e-waste collection depots. Ten of these sites will offer year-round collection including five in Winnipeg.

Find out more about local e-waste disposal including drop off sites below:
Winnipeg Free Press Article (with map)
Expanded post on ChrisD.ca

Credit: Montgomery Cty Division of Solid Waste Services via Flickr

Plastic has been around for over 100 years. It’s become such a staple of our man made environment that we don’t think twice about it. Every day items from our clothing, vehicles, homes, electronics and more  contain plastics. It’s an incredible product that has allowed us to produce a wide range of items. But what was once a revolutionary product promising a bright future has become a blight from an environmental perspective.

Forever plastic takes a look at the history of plastic from it humble origins the incredible range of products we see today. But the real story in the documentary is a close look at the recycling of plastics, and the challenges faced by the recycling industry. Most of us assume that everything we put in our blue boxes gets recycled and we feel better having taken one small step to being green. But as the documentary shows, recycling isn’t always that simple.

Forever Plastic interviews a commodities trader, his job is to find a market for the recycled plastics. If there is no market demand for a particular type of plastic it gets sorted out from the recycled items and often either accumulates in storage or is brought to a landfill. It was shocking to see how little of the recycled items were of no value to his firm as he had no buying market to take certain plastics. Only 1/3 of the plastics in a blue bin were re-usable in the sample shown.

For example the clear plastic egg cartons that are often assumed to be recyclable are in fact not being recycled at all. It turns out there is no market for that particular type of plastic. Which means these containers are simple shipped to a landfill in the end. Even if the manufacturer creates a product with recyclable plastic it may not be recyclable, it depends what recycling processing plants exist in your community and if there is a market for that particular plastic.

To add more confusion to the mix, it turns out what most people think is a recycling symbol on the bottom of plastic packaging does not actually indicate a product is recyclable at all. The triangular arrows present on most packages is called a mobius loop, this symbol is not owned by anyone and it’s application is not regulated in any way. In 1988 the society of the plastics industry decided to incorporate this logo in their resin identification system. The plastics industry added a number inside the arrows, but all this indicates is what resin the plastic is made out of. So when you see this logo on the bottom of a package it doesn’t necessarily guarantee recyclability, it’s actually quite meaningless except for the number inside which indicates the type of plastic it is.  But the plastics industry refuses to change the misunderstood symbol.

The government of Canada has made recommendations to the plastics industry. Namely that the manufacturers clearly label the front of the product with a recycling symbol that indicates a product is truly recyclable. But these are just voluntary guidelines, manufacturers are free to choose if they want to follow the guidelines.

As it turns out recycling isn’t as simple as one might think. It involves many companies, manufactures, markets and different regulations in each municipality. The manufacturers say they have done their due diligence, and point to the recyclers, the recyclers point to the market demand, and the market points back to the governing body.

Forever plastic was a great documentary, it really showed how much work there is to do in Canada before we have a truly green recycling program. So what can consumers do? Recycling is defenitely something that should be continued, but it’s important consumers get involved. Contact your city, town or municipality. Often they have a list of acceptable products on their website or can direct you to the information elsewhere. And most of all get involved let your civic officials know you want better and more thorough recycling in your area.

For more information on Forever Plastic click here

Credit: Aaron Escobar via Flickr

Easy Eco Baby is a local company that sells environmentally friendly baby care products. We receive their newsletter and they have let us know about events taking place around Manitoba for earth day. Why not take in an event and help celebrate earth day!

Brandon Earth Day Celebrations

Celebrations to be held on Sunday April 19 at 12 noon to 5:00 pm with many displays and information handouts. There will be free compost available to individuals and a free draw will be held for a bicycle and Easy Eco Baby Gift Pack.

WHEN:  Sunday April 19th, 2009
Time:  12pm to 5pm
WHERE:  Princess Park
Princess Avenue and 8th Street
Brandon, Manitoba
Visit www.earthday.ca for more info

Earth Day Canada Event at St. Mary’s Road United Church

Come and hear speakers from the University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance talk about green cities and geothermal energy. There will also be displays featuring Climate Change Connection, Ten Thousand Villages, MPI, Easy Eco Baby and an E-Waste Depot in the parking lot area.

When:  Wednesday April 22, 2009
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Where:  St. Mary’s Rd United Church 613 St. Mary’s Road
Phone 257-0678 or visit www.earthday.ca for more info

Manitoba Eco-Cafe and Market:

Find earth-friendly products and connect with local environmental groups over fair trade coffee at the Earth Day Eco-Café & Market. Enter your name in our door prize draw to win a fabulous gift basket compliments of Easy Eco Baby.

When:  Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Time:  10:00am to 4:00pm
Where:  Robert A. Steen Community Centre
980 Palmerston Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Visit www.mbearthday.we.bs for more info.

Credit: Aaron Escobar via Flickr

Earth Day is on Wednesday, April 22nd, to mark the occasion Investors Group on Waverley is hosting an Earth Day E-Waste Drop Off.  If you have any electronics equipment that you want to dispose of, instead of throwing them in the garbage, please bring them to their office between 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM.  Investors will have a drop off site set up in their front parking lot.  Items accepted are as follows;

• TVs
• Computer monitors
• Desktop computers
• Laptop computers
• VCRs / Stereos
• Phones / Cell Phones
• Scanners / Copiers / Fax Machines
• Microwave Ovens
• Rechargeable batteries

Location:   1345 Waverley Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba   (the corner of McGillivray Blvd. & Waverley Street)
For more details, please call (204) 489-4640.

The public is welcome to use this service, so tell your friends. Please note this is for individuals only, no bulk drop offs will be accepted.

Credit *clarity* via Flickr

I was recently caught in a discussion over organic food. Our family eats quite a bit of organic food everything from dairy, meat and most of our vegetables. We prefer to eat organic mostly for the health benefits and the reduction in chemicals use that goes into the environment and our bodies. But in a recent discussion the opinion was expressed that organic food was a marketing ploy and that we were being ripped off. I of course defended our choices by stating that organics are supposed to be safer and the certification process is supposed to protect that.

But the discussion did prompt me to think twice about organics, was organic food really worth it? Are we really just suckers of a current trend, like the Atkins diet craze a few years back? What if the organic certification wasn’t really being followed and we were consuming the same apples everyone else was albeit at a higher price?

While you can never be absolutely certain a producer isn’t circumventing the organic certification, there are some facts that have led me to believe my original reasons for going organic were the right choices to make.

Everyone acknowledges that current vegetables and fruits are sprayed with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This is not a debate, this is a fact. What is debated is whether these chemicals have any effect on our bodies. Some say that these chemicals are benign and without them we could never have the abundant food harvests cultivated in modern farming. In addition using these chemicals are necessary if we are to feed an ever increasing global population.

On the other side of the argument the organic camp states that any amount of chemical ingested is bad for you. Children in particular are most susceptible due to their size and decreased capacity to process these chemicals. And the chemicals also pose an environmental threat as ground water contamination from run off.

So what is the risk from these chemicals?

Studies have show that many chemicals still exist in our bodies long after consumption. PCBs for example can be found in every person on the planet even those with no direct contact from this chemical. PCBs have been found amongst the most remote indigenous tribes to the upper reaches of the arctic circle.

In addition according to a Fast Company article posted earlier, it states that the chemical companies in the US are not regulated by a particular government body. That means the onus to prove that a chemical is safe rests solely on the chemical manufacturer’s shoulders. In the case of Bisphenol A the chemical manufacturers admit it’s bad for you, but again they revert back to the argument that it’s safe so long as it’s in small enough quantities. Studies have show that Bisphenol A can take some time to pass our bodies, during that period we are exposed to more Bisphenol A so it has an accumulating effect. With millions on the line and shareholders holding the executives accountable, how thoroughly are products like Bisphenol A being tested?

We know that chemicals are being sprayed on conventional fruits and vegetables, and we also know that there are some unanswered questions about the chemicals that surround us. While it’s true I can not proove inconclusively that organics practices have been followed, if there is a food option that has a higher likely hood to contain fewer chemicals I’ll take it. And when it comes to my child no price is too steep to reduce exposure to chemicals.

But what about the cost? Critics of organic foods also point out the increased cost of the everyday food items. This is not something I debate either, we definitely see a larger grocery bill than we did previously, but we also buy half if not more of our food as organic, I suspect we eat more organic food than the average consumer so our bill may be larger than the average organic consumer.

According to the USDA in 2006 the average American household spent 9.6% of their income on food. While this may seem like a lot of money consider these facts; India (39.4 percent) and Indonesia (49.9 percent) are among the highest when it comes to the amount of disposable income spent on food according to an article published in the Salem news. In reality most of us have the resources to purchase foods that are less likely to contain pesticides. While others may not want to spend that much, there are options.

For instance certain foods absorb more chemicals than others or are more susceptible to pesticides when sprayed. Start with the foods you eat that have the greatest risk and purchase only those as organic. In essence buy organic strategically, you don’t have to convert your shopping habits overnight. (For a list of the foods with the highest toxicity levels jump to the links below.)

While I realize not everyone can afford to purchase organic, if you can afford it, why not reduce your chemical exposure? I for one am happy to reduce our risk even if it comes at a higher cost, and I think my daughter will thank me for it later.

Let me know what you think in the comments, I’d love to hear about others opinions or experiences.

Click here for a list of which fruits and veggies have the highest pesticide loads.

List of sources:
Percent of us income spend on food
Article providing stats on income spent on food globally

Credit 96dpi via Flickr

Like most Canadians over the years I’ve been told of our abundant freshwater resources, and how we are one of the richest countries when it comes to fresh water resources. Numerous reports have been publishes that put our global fresh water share at varying amounts; 25%, 20% and so on. Either way many people would agree, we have an abundance of fresh water. Or do we?

Upon closer examination it becomes clear that only a fraction of the fresh water we currently have is renewable. Again there are varying stats but I’ve read numbers such as only 7%, 9% etc of our national fresh water supply is renewable. That means most of our fresh water is tied into non renewable resources such as glaciers, icebergs and other resources that are in retreat. Withe the onset of global warming it only speeds up the diminishing nature of these non renewable resources.

Many climate and water experts now believe that water scarcity in many countries will reach a global crisis in the latter part of this century, wich raises the possbility of conflict in certain parts of the world.

The myth of abundant, never ending fresh water seems so tied to our public psyche here in Canada that most of us take it for granted. Perhaps that’s why Canadians are amongst the top consumers of fresh water per capita in the world. In fact Canadians use more than twice the water people in Europe use.

But it doesn’t have to be this way, with simple steps we can reduce our consumption. GoBlue.org is a site created by Unilever canada, it discusses the issues above in detail and gives tips on how you can reduce your water consumption in your home.

Visit GoBlue.org
More stats on Canadian water use in Canada

SOIL: Sasha Kramer (right)

Haiti is the poorest contry in the western hemisphere, it is estimated 80% of it’s population is living in poverty. An already bad situation has been made worse by the desertification of this small carribean country. In 1925, Haiti was lush, with 60% of its original forest covering the lands and mountainous regions. Since then, the population has cut down all but an estimated 2% of its original forest cover, and in the process has destroyed fertile farmland soils.

In a country where many struggle to feed themselves having fertile soil to grow food and crops is essential. A friend has written in about Sasha Kramer and Sarah Brownell two women who run a non-profit grop called SOIL in haiti. Their goal is to raise funds and teach haitiens how to build composting toilets. Composting toilest turn human waste into valuable fertilizer without the use of water or chemicals. And when built properly they omit few odors and can be quite safe.

By providing a natural source of fertilizer this allows SOIL to empower communities and help rebuild their ability to feed themselves and flourish. SOIL is a small non profit and they’re looking for help to continue their work.

Here is a quote from Sasha about their need for funding:

We know that times have been tough everywhere and certainly our organization has felt the pinch with donations dropping in response to the economic crisis.  We currently have enough money to continue to function through the month of April but with our rent coming due in early May and no vehicle we are still struggling to stay afloat. Our network has been so generous in the past and we are so grateful to all of you who have supported us over the past few years…you have made this work a reality and it is such an honor to be part of such a compassionate group of people.

More on composting toilets; in the west we aren’t as familiar with this concept but it has been proven safe and effective, there are experiments with composting toilets in some countries including Europe, Canada and the US. One example is the three-story C.K. Choi Building at the University of British Columbia (Canada), which contains 5 compost chambers with 12 toilets for 300 full-time employees.

Read more about SOIL in Haiti
Visit the SOIL homepage, they are in need of any donations you can spare
More about composting toilets

Free Flow Turbine

When someone says hydro power, most of us think large concrete structures holding back million of gallons of water to generate electricity. But what if there was another way to use a river’s natural currents to produce electricity? Possible without placing large concrete structures within a biosphere and disrupting the natural currents or water mass? Among solar panels, and wind turbines is another technology that has potential to generate power for cities adjacent to moving bodies of water: Free Flow Underwater Turbines.

Very simply, it works like a wind turbine along the bed of a river, but the blades are moved by a water current instead of by the wind. The turbine blades rotate slowly allowing fish to pass through safely with minimal environmental impact. One of the disadvantages of wind turbines are days when there is no wind or it’s not sufficient to generate power, not so with free flow turbines, since the current runs all day every day there is no period where the turbine is inactive.

Last year Ontario invested 2.2 million into the Cornwall Ontario River Energy project, it’s goal to develop 15MW of power as a demonstration of the feasibility and commercial viability of free flow underwater turbines.

More info on these unique turbines
Information about the C.O.R.E project in Ontario

King Corn

In King Corn Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis are two Ivy league grads who after analyzing their hair samples discover that the carbon in their body is mostly made up of corn. They also discover that they are the first generation to potentially have a shorter life expectancy than the previous generation. Both of these issues are directly related to our diet and what we eat.

Determined to find out how corn has become such a staple of the American diet they move out to Iowa to grow an acre of corn. After convincing a farmer to lend them an acre of land they set out planting a crop. Little did they know planting and growing the crop would be the easy part, once their acre of corn ended up in the commercial grain system it was easier said than done tracking it’s progress as it was processed into other products.

Wanting to find out exactly what happens to all this corn lead them to examine the underbelly of American corn production. They begin by explaining why America in particular produces so much corn, how it’s subsidized and how the corn differs from the corn we eat at the dinner table.

They also discover how corn has seeped into every corner of the food supply, from artificial sweetners, to hamburgers, all of it corn. The fact that just about everything we eat is corn based has drastically altered our health, and not necessarily for the better.

Watch the trailer here

VBS.tv Video Series

We all know the problems plastics pose, their resource use as a petroleum and chemical product, the leeching of chemicals, and the problem with waste once the product they make up is no longer needed.

However one problem that isn’t as widely know is how everyday products are infiltrating our waterways slowly making their way into our Oceans and collecting in the north pacific. The most widely know of these spots is the North Pacific Gyre, aka the North Pacific Garbage Patch.

The Gyre is a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of currents created by a high-pressure system of air currents in the norther pacific ocean. The area is an oceanic desert , filled with tiny phytoplankton but few big fish or mammals. Due to its lack of large fish and gentle breezes, fishermen and­ s­ailors rarely travel through the gyre. But the area is filled with something besides plankton: trash, millions of pounds of it, most of it plastic. It’s the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean.

VBS.tv has presented a 12 part documentary on the gyre, each episode lasting about 5 minutes give or take. It’s a little slow in the middle and there is some swearing but I think the message is what’s important and in the end they show the average person just what we are putting in our ocean.

Captain Charles Moore has dedicated himself to exposing the gyre and studying it effects. Towards the end he reflects on the gyre and what it says about us as a society, here are his thoughts:

Critical thinking it’s  a faculty that’s in danger in our present day society. We live in the happy consciousness era. We’re the strongest nation on earth (the US), globalization is inevitable, we’ve got more stuff, he who dies with the most toys wins.

I think that’s why I’m so gung-ho on this plastic thing, because it’s a symbol of the wrong direction we’re taking as a society as a whole. What is the promise of society? Descartes said there was such a thing as a social contract. That we give up our individual liberties to the society as a whole because it can liberate us greater than we could do by ourselves. Is that still the case? Are we getting the bang for the buck out of our society and our social institutions that we gave up our anarchistic tendencies for? We’re caught in the trade winds of our time, we can’t succeed from society, but we have to plant the seed of the future in the present.

Warning: this video series uses some coarse language.
Watch the VBS.tv series

More on the north pacific gyre:
Treehugger article on the gyre