ecyclers target excess packaging practices New industry guidelines seek 50% reduction in waste packaging by the year 2000 ECO INFO “NOTHING SETS en- ‘ vironmentalists’ _ coflective teeth on edge more than unnecessary packaging in the supermarkets. Packaging. is a significant com- ponent of most: households’ gar- bage, even for people who are do- ing their best to cut down on waste.. The National ‘Packaging Task Force, a group of industry stake- holders and. environmentalists, ’ is working on. guidelines io help manufacturers meet the aim of the ‘ National Packaging Protocol — a 50% reduction in waste packaging by the year 2000. Just released are results of a na- tional survey of packaging use and disposal for 1990. ‘The study, which tracked 11,600 industrial. as well as household .; packaging users, found that 13.5 . million tonnes of packaging were consumed in that year. Of that; 33% was disposed, 13% was recycled, and a hefty 54% was reused. Before you have visions of mil- jions of Canadians faithfully reus- ‘ing their trillions of plastic yogurt containers, let me hasten to say that almost half of the ‘‘reused’’ TV. ON/ OFF - VIBRATION FEATURE packaging consisted of wooden pallets, which also make up almost 40% by weight of the total packaging used. : Industry achieved higher re-use and recycling rates for their packaging than did households, as industrial sources of packaging tend to be cleaner, more concen- trated, and therefore less costly to collect and reprocess. Overall, Canadians consumed 1.43 kg per person per day of packaging. A 14% reduction (over 1988 levels) in packaging disposal was achieved in 1990, but the En- vironmentally Sound Packaging Coalition of Canada (ESP) predicts that it will become in- creasingly difficult to meet future waste packaging reduction goals once the easy steps are taken and more difficult measures are to be implemented. In conjunction with the B.C. environment ministry, Canada Safeway and Overwaitea/Save- On-Foods, ESP offers Green Shopper tours of local food stores to teach consumers how they can ' keep unnecessary packaging out of their shopping carts. From the ESP spring newsletier, here is a sampling of their rec- ommendations. For tour informa- tion or brochures, inquire at your local Safeway or Save-On-Foods. @ Buying in bulk allows you to get just the quantity of product you need — no more and no less. And with no fancy packaging. Some stores offer bulk foods such as pie filling and peanut but- ter prepackaged in generic plastic tubs that are excellent for re-use. @ When buying spices, choose plastic. pouches for refilling origi- nal spice bottles, or buy in the bulk food section. @ Breakfast cereal packaged only in a plastic bag is less wasteful than cereal in boxes that has a plastic liner as well. @ Choose potato chips in plastic onl;, not boxed and bagged. @ Avoid single-serving products ° such as puddings, breakfast cere- als, fruit cocktail, etc. @ Remember, even if the label says the packaging is recyclable, it isn't recyclable if there’s no col- lection program available in our community, Cereal boxes may be recyclable in some areas, but currently that isn’t the case on the North Shore. @ Avoid tea bags individually wrapped in paper or foil and then boxed. Choose tcu bags in a plastic bag or buy loose tea and store in a container at home. @ Choose durable and reusable coffee filters made from metal or cloth. , @ If you use disposable paper filters, they should be unbleached or oxygen bleached. @ Buy refills of wax paper and aluminum foil for use in their original box. ® Invest in a reusable lunch kit, complete with plastic sandwich and yogurt containers. o When buying laundry detergent, choose sinaller boxes with a more concentrated product. @ Choose refill pouches for. refill- ing liquid laundry and dishwashing detergents. @ Look for unwrapped bar soap or buy several bars in a plastic bag. @ Choose. toothbrush tubes that stand on their caps and come without other packaging. @ Use wash cloth, tea towels and cloth napkins to replace paper towels and paper napkins. @ Chocse frozen juice concen- trate (some come in recyclable aluminum) for the least packag- ing. © Some stores offer bulk soft drink dispensers that allow you to refill your bottle. @® Choose’ refillable glass milk bottles where available. Another good choice is the pouches of milk which are sold in bags of three and are served ina reusable plastic jug. @ Many stores now sell eggs in bulk so you can reuse your car- ton. INTRODUCTORY OFFER @ Reject individually wrapped slices of processed cheese. @ Buy yogurt in large tubs and send individual portions to the school or office in your own reus- able lunch container. © You've heard it before, but you'll ‘hear it again until more people catch cn: bring your own carry-home bags! They're not on- ly. a good way to reduce waste, cloth shopping bags hold more and are much easier to carry. information on packaging and labelling issues, Green Shopper tours or ESP publications, cali the Environmen- tally Sound Packaging Coalition at 736-3644, For more You are invited to view: AN INSTANT RECREATIONAL COTTAGE at: Modern Image Plaza, Marine and Pemberton - next to SHELL STATION Anon G646 Hours: 12:00 - 5:00pm ; A ‘Cottage dndustry’ built in North Vancouver CLOSET ORGANIZERS | . 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