Paul van der Werf
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Where There is a Will There is a Goodwill
My company 2cg, among other things, undertakes waste audits for the private and public sectors. We have been doing this for the last 20 years. Typically, I send out an able crew to undertake these audits. Every once in a…
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Does our Waste Glow?
As reported recently by the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) and reported in an earlier blog post by Guy Crittenden, the issue of Canadian waste entering may be heating up again. As they are want to do, the Americans have…
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Municipal Waste Association Conference
I had a great time at the Municipal Waste Association conference in Hockley Valley on 18 and 19 May. As I said to Sue McCrae the outgoing president the MWA consistently puts on great and well organized events. This year’s…
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Election and the Environment
It’s amazing how little traction the environment has been accorded in this election. Although the economy and environment equation is often trumpeted (with social aspects thrown in for a good triple bottom line measure) it seems that it is the…
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The Dematerialization Zone
What causes people to waste? Put another way why do some societies and their people use their resources more efficiently- thereby generating less waste? This is probably a better way to frame the issue. In my 13 March blog I…
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Uncle Sam's Waste
I have had the benefit of not one but two winter holidays this year. I am not used to taking winter holidays and could probably do without them. They are kind of like a conjugal visit with Mother Nature. It’s…
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Bottles and Bags
There were two stories that caught my eye today. In London, Ontario there is some debate about whether or not to rescind the ban on bottled water at City Hall and municipal facilities. The other story that caught my eye…
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Thank-you Jack
I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Jack McGinnis. Although I cannot claim to have known him well, having met him only on a few occasions, the impact of what he and his colleagues accomplished have impacted…
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Ziplock Politics
There was a story floating around the papers this week about a young child in Quebec who was not allowed to participate in an in-class draw for a stuffed animal for the egregious offence of daring to bring a sandwich…
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Its Out of the Bag
I flew into Maui on 13 January for a vacation. I did not want to think about garbage for ten days or so… On my first trip to the grocery store I noticed little placards announcing a ban on plastic…
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