Nova Scotia Celebrates Waste Reduction Week in Canada

Nova Scotia continues to lead by example as Canada celebrates Waste Reduction Week, Oct. 17-23.

The annual event is designed to educate, engage and empower Canadians to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

"Nova Scotians are world leaders when it comes to recycling and waste diversion," said Sterling Belliveau, Minister of Environment. "They understand the value of recycling and the importance of keeping waste out of landfills.

"During Waste Reduction Week, we will build on our success and identify new and even better ways to reduce our waste."

Last year, Nova Scotians sent an average of 401 kilograms of waste per person to landfills, compared with a Canadian average of more than 800 kilograms. To reduce our disposal rate further, the province has set a new target of 300 kilograms per person, per year by 2015.

To help reach its goal, the province recently released Our Path Forward. The plan outlines how Nova Scotia can reduce waste disposal and increase recycling.

Since 2001, Waste Reduction Week has been organized by a coalition of non-government, not-for-profit environment groups and governments from each of the 13 participating provincial and territorial jurisdictions.

More information on Waste Reduction Week, resources and promotional materials can be downloaded www.wrwcanada.com/resources .

For information on how to sort and reduce your waste, visit the RRFB website at www.reduceyourwaste.ca .

To review the Our Path Forward plan, visit www.gov.ns.ca/nse/waste/docs/Solid.Waste.Strategy-Our.Path.Forward.2011.pdf .