4 - Sunday, October 7, 1990 - North Shore News One company’s useless gunk is another one’s treasure 1 SUBSCRIBE to a data bank that keeps track of Canadian success stories that document achievement in reaching the elusive goal of sustainable development, as urged by the United Na- tions Task Force on the Environment. The bank makes interesting treading, not only because it tells me what ecological innovations are actually happening — in the sense of coming on the market — as opposed to what press releases from the corporate sector claim is happening, but also because of the depth and diversity of the response to the environmental crisis that the data reveal. None of these inventious or new services are world-shatteringly revolutionary in themselves. And, God knows, they may be too lit- tle, too late. But it is good to know that they are becoming available. One of my favorites, because it is so simole and original, is a na- tional regisier of wastes for ex- change. That’s right. You’ve got some horrible byproduct, probably toxic, that you want to get rid of without having to pay an arm and a leg for disposal. You advertise in the register for someone who has something awful left over that they want to get rid of too, but maybe they can use your chemical residue, and maybe you can use theirs. One company’s useless gunk can reduce another company’s operational costs. The benefit to the eco-system is that trading waste and reusing it is far better than throwing it away. In a similar vein, a cleaning process for oily sand has been de- veloped which decreases the amount of fluid-::andling in large amounts of waste. Given the number of oil spills happening nowadays, this is an invatucbie tool when it comes to cleaning up fouled beaches. It handily supplements new equipment which has been design- ed for the filtering and re-use of all kinds of oil. Incidental minor leaks and throw-away containers deposit as much oil in the en- vironment every year as all the tanker accidents combined. Vulcan Automotive Equipment of Vancouver has perfected an ‘abrasive aluminum shot system” for cleaning auto parts which eliminates the need to dispose of caustic chemicals. At the same time, it lowers labor costs. FPPF Chemical Co. of Oakville, Ontario, has come up with an anti-freeze recycling system. Instead of anti-freeze be- ing thrown away, it can be ‘‘re- habilitated’’ and re-used. Save-On-Laser Services of Van- couver has found a way to remanufacture laser printer car- tridges. This does several good things. It avoids the need to package new cartridges as well as saving space as landfill sites, and, of course, it also saves companies money. . Here's one that can benefit us all, Developed by Wabigoon Tree Nursery, it is a computer program that predicts the daily irrigation needs of timber seedlings. Needless to say, this greatly enhances the trees’ chances of survival. As 2 former chicken farmer, ! ECOLOGIC appreciate the value of this one: a waste egg shell recovery system enginecred by Export Packers Company of Winnipeg. Waste egg shells are processed into chicken feed, cutting down on disposal costs and guaranteeing a one-year pay-back on invest- ment. How about an ultraviolet sewage treatment system? It has already been tried in Banff, and it works. Dangerous chemicals that find their way into the sewers — such as CFCs and heavy metals — are eliminated through the use of ultra-violet radiation, thereby relieving the pressure on water- ways and the ozone layer at the same time. At the low-tech end of the scale, we find that an outfit called Mondex Trade and Development Corp. has built a hand-pumped spray bottle thai uses neither CFCs nor hydrocarbons. A Toronto woman operating on her own has come up with a re- usable cloth giftwrap, while an «Xtawa woman sells hand-painted re-usable cloth shopping bags. Then there is Enviro-Mate. No, that’s not an ecologist’s sweet- heart. It’s an aerator system for ome composting. A group at the University of Alberta has devised a Bench-Top Chemical Treatment System. Chemicals no longer needed are collected, sorted and treated right is: the lab where they are being used, thereby eliminating treat- ment and transportation expenses. You'll note that a common theme running through most of these success stories is that, in ad- dition to being useful in terms of sparing the environment, they are also cost-effective. The reason they are successes is that they save somebody money. Put another way, they help people make money — both the customer and the salesman or service pro- vider. The argument that cleaning up the environment would cost jobs was used for years by companies and governments as an excuse to delay taking any positive remedial action, As this particular data bank shows, quite the opposite is true. More jobs will be generated by far in the pursuit of a clean, sus- tainable environment, than will be lost. Anybody interested in getting access to the bank can simply write to The Manager, Success Stories, Sustainable Development, Environment Canada, Ottawa K1A 0H3. CANADIAN CLOSET Free home estimates « 986-4263 1385 Crown St, N Van ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER Barristers & Solicitors Personal Injury FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION AFTER HOURS FAX 645-8989 986-4366 986-9286 #300-1401 LONSDALE NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. “Safety is no accident, so PLAYSAFE!” h A Are you ready to be the hest you can be? Ifso, join the North Shore News and Heatheringtons October 15 for an unforgettable evening of fashion and fun with internationally known image consultant Robert Panté. This seminar, designed especially for women will help you achieve success in your personal and professional life. AN EVENING WITH IMAGE CONSULTANT | ROBERT PANTE Robert is a straight-forward, electrifying speaker who has appeared on numerous national ralk shows. He is the author of the besr-selling buck Dressing to Win: How to Have More Money, Romance and Power in Your Life. Robert will do makeovers on members of the audience. Using volunteers from che audience, he will teach all seminar attendees exactly how they can give themselves a new look. He also helps the audience find out whac stops them from looking and dressing their best. WHAT: An evening with Image Consultant Robert Panté; introduction by Toby Silverton and Bev McLagan, Registered Clinical Counsellors. WHEN: Monday, October 15, 6-9:30 p.m. 6 p.m. Hot & cold buffet, no-host bar 7 p.m. sharp: Seminar begins WHERE: MERIDIAN HOTEL 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver PRICE: $50 PER PERSON Seating is limited. Get your tickets now! Your ticket is redeemable for a $50 credit toward any purchase at Heatheringtons after the seminar. TICKETS AVAILABLE: North Shore News Heatheringtons 1139 Lonsdale Ave 2008 Park Royal South North Vancouver 926-0090 985-2131 Or by Mail Please send me Enclosed is my cheque for $ Make your personalized cheques payable to: An Evening with Robert Panté Mail to: 2008 Park Royal South West Vancouver, B.C. VIT 2W4 Your Signature tickets at $50 each. Name _- Address City Postal Cade Phone Number Presented by: ATHERINGTONS HAE VURCE OF NOATTEN AWD WENT VAMC OLIVER