News Release Archive

ENVIRONMENT--RESTAURANTS-PARTNERS IN COMPOSTING PROGRAM
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What happens to that half eaten donut, leftover french fries and
ice cream. If you are in the Scotia Square food court, chances
are the material is being composted.

The Department of Environment, in partnership with the Halifax
Regional Municipality (HRM) and Halifax Developments, are
launching an organics pilot project which will test methods of
collection of organics from restaurants.

Environment Minister Wayne Adams said, "Taking a few moments to
separate the organics is an investment in the environment that
will deliver dividends fro years to come. What we are doing here
today takes us closer to our target of reducing solid waste by 50
per cent. I want to congratulate the Halifax Regional
Municipality and Scotia Square for their willingness to blaze the
trail towards a cleaner Nova Scotia."

Mayor Walter Fitzgerald said, "We are working together with local
businesses in support of HRM's overall waste management strategy.
Composting is a very important part of this strategy. The more we
can do now towards maximizing diversion through composting, the
greater the savings on disposal costs we achieve."

Halifax Developments general manager, Dennis Rogers said, "On
behalf of our employees and tenants, we are pleased to
participate with both levels of government in this most important
pilot project."

Tim Hortons, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dairy Queen, Cultures and
A & W are the participating restaurants in the Scotia Square food
court where both employees and food court patrons are provided
the opportunity to separate organic material and paper products
for composting. Customers to the food court will be greeted with
a tray liner explaining how to separate their materials and place
them in the special receptacles centrally located in the court.
In addition to tray liners, customers will learn about the
collection program from the large signs placed over the
receptacles indicating which materials are to be place inside.
The 10 week, jointly sponsored project, is intended to provide
the restaurant sector with system options for source separation
of organics in advance of the organics bans from landfill.

Scotia Square food court building services manager, Paul Evans
said, "Organics are a major portion of the material that
comprises our waste from the food court. At present, we ship out
36 to 40 bags of leftover food and other waste six days a week.
The more we can do to divert through composting, the better it
will be for our environment."

This pilot project with restaurants is funded in part by the
municipality, the province and in-kind support from the
restaurants and Scotia Square employees. Systems for apartment
buildings and offices are also being tested. A final report will
be completed by the end of July.

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Contact: Paul McEachern, Dept. of Environment      902-424-2575 

         Jim Bauld, Halifax Regional Municipality  902-490-5960

         Paul Evans, Scotia Square        902-429-3660 Ext. 171

trp                   Apr. 1, 1997 - 12:20 p.m.