Category Archives: Waste

Waste

Recycling isn’t the ‘panacea’ that will save oceans from plastic at UN Ocean summit

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada has the opportunity to position itself as a leader in tackling the world’s marine plastics problem at this week’s UN Ocean Conference, experts say. 

However, to effect real change, Canada and its international partners will have to aggressively wean themselves off unnecessary plastics and accelerate the development of a global circular economy to make sure plastic pollution doesn’t end up in oceans. 

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Waste

Garbage is an Issue on Cortes Island Docks

Recently the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island (HACI) decided to stop offering garbage disposal services on our docks. This news sparked a flurry of discussion on Cortes Island Facebook groups. Some people were upset at the HACI decision, while others supported it. Most people agreed that there is a “garbage problem” on our docks, but opinions varied about who is to blame and what should be done.

On Saturday, May 21st I visited the Gorge Harbour Government Dock to interview Billie Fleming, who has worked for HACI as a garbage collector. Billie is now offering her own garbage pickup service at the Gorge Harbour public dock from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday through Saturday.

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Rivers & Oceans, Waste

Cortes Island family donates a portion of its profits towards marine conservation

Click here for ‘Mothers Day Beach Clean-up on Cortes Island’

By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

Inspired by the enthusiasm her teenage sons shared after being on hand for a high school presentation nearly 10 years ago, Cortes Creations owner Leslie Mack-Mumford got creative. The family business was looking for a way to generate enough money to donate towards marine conservation initiatives.

And so 10,000 Whales was born, a wing of Cortes Creations, the local health and natural skin care products enterprise.

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Waste

Compost pickup service coming to Strathcona Regional District

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

With the large new composting facility in Campbell River opening up this fall, about 30 per cent of organic waste is expected to be diverted from the regional landfill.  However, Cortes Island residents should not expect that their organic waste will be shipped to this new facility, according to Vivian Schau, Senior Manager for Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM).

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Rivers & Oceans, Tourism, Waste

Wave of pollution from cruise ships expected regardless of new federal wastewater rules

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Environmental groups are hoisting red flags as the cruise ship season relaunches after the easing of COVID restrictions on the West Coast despite Ottawa’s recent announcement it will roll out stricter wastewater dumping rules. 

The federal government’s proposed environmental regulations are ambiguous, but signal Transport Canada is starting to acknowledge cruise ships have been taking advantage of Canada’s lax standards to dump billions of litres of dirty water waste along the B.C. coast, said Anna Barford, Stand.earth’s shipping campaigner. 

Continue reading Wave of pollution from cruise ships expected regardless of new federal wastewater rules →