1999 Saskatchewan Waste Minimization Awards

The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council and Tetra Pak Canada sponsored Saskatchewan's fourth Waste Minimization Awards ceremony on March 28, 2000 in Weyburn. The Awards recognize waste minimization leadership in non-profit organizations, municipalities, corporations and in partnerships.

The non-profit organization award went to the Battlefords Trade and Education Centre (BTEC). BTEC recently expanded their material recovery facility as part of a new joint program with the City and a local waste hauler. They process all types of paper, tin cans and some plastics. In 1999, they diverted 800 tonnes of materials from the city's landfill. The program provides employment and activities to approximately 115 disabled persons. Honourable mentions in this category go to the Regina Habitat for Humanity's ReStore for their role in promoting the use of reusable household construction items, and to the Deer Park Villa in Ituna for the implementation of a recycling program in the community.

The municipal award went to the City of Regina's gr0w (Garbage Reduction, Zero Waste) Program. The program, which takes place in City Hall, is intended to divert office paper and cardboard from the landfill. This was accomplished by removing each employee's personal trash bin, and replacing them with larger communal bins. Each employee was given a personal container for paper recycling. Since the program's inception in 1998, City Hall's paper recycling rate has increased by 350 percent.

The corporate leadership award went to the Regional Psychiatric Centre (RPC) in Saskatoon for significantly reducing the amount of waste generated at the facility. Since the program's inception one year ago, the RPC has reduced the amount of waste going to the landfill by 67 percent. The RPC has also reduced the amount of toxic chemicals used by replacing many of these items with environmentally friendly products. Honourable mention in this category goes to Sanitec Canada of Regina. Sanitec is a new biomedical waste facility which reduces the amount of waste going to landfill by 80 percent through a shredding process.

The partnership award goes to the Town of Maple Creek and Maple Creek & District Opportunities for their combined efforts to reduce the amount of waste going to the town's landfill. Maple Creek & District Opportunities provides recycling facilities and creates local jobs. The Town picks up cardboard from businesses and from recycling bins and delivers it to Opportunities. From Apr/96 to Dec/99, 537 tonnes of materials have been recycled, and the amount rises every year. The Town benefits from diversion of materials from landfill and local employment. Opportunities benefits by having a manageable workload for its staff and financial stability. Maple Creek businesses get regular recyclable pickup and its citizens have convenient locations to drop off their recyclables.

All of the winners demonstrate a strong commitment to waste minimization and have made our province a better place to live. We congratulate them!