SaskPower Floating in “Zero G”

SaskPower believes in 5 Rs when it comes to waste management – rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. In their desire to reduce their environmental footprint, the company created their “Zero G” (“G” as in Garbage) program in 1993. It began with paper and cardboard recycling at their offices, and has expanded to cover such materials as oily rags, antifreeze, printer cartridges, and organics, at both office and power facilities across the province.

When they have found a material that can’t normally be recycled, they have sought out or even created new programs. For example, transmission wire scrap is sent to Sask. Abilities Council workshops, where it is stripped of its insulation and sent back to SaskPower for sale.

Other initiatives include the introduction of vermicomposters at several offices to reduce food waste; and centralized sorting of scrap metals from various work locales, to determine whether any can be reused, before being sold.

SaskPower also partners with other community organizations. One of the most innovative programs is the “Green The Park” program at Taylor Field in Regina. In conjunction with the City of Regina and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, they’ve taken to recycling the plastic drink cups, with great success – approx. 80 percent, or 200,000 cups are being recycled yearly!

For more information, see SaskPower's website.

(Source: Sept. 2006 WasteWatch)

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