Nova Scotia Environmental Champions Honoured

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR/RESOURCE RECOVERY FUND BOARD--Nova Scotia Environmental Champions Honoured

Nova Scotians who distinguished themselves as environmental champions in 2001 were honoured at a luncheon today, Feb. 28, in Halifax.

RRFB Nova Scotia, formerly Resource Recovery Fund Board, recognizes the environmental achievements of Nova Scotians every year through the Solid Waste-Resource Awards. This year, the following individuals and organizations received awards:

• Environmental Business of the Year: Stora Enso, Port Hawkesbury
• Environmental Institution of the Year: Dartmouth General Hospital
• Innovation in Waste Management: David Harris of H and H Recovery Limited, Yarmouth
• Waste Management Education: ACAP-Cape Breton, Sydney
• Individual Excellence in Waste Management: Paul Arnold, Acadia University, Wolfville
• Region of the Year: Valley Waste-Resource Management Authority, Kentville
• Enviro-Depot of the Year: P. J.'s Bargain Centre, Blockhouse
• Registered Tire Retailer of the Year: Canadian Tire, Cole Harbour
• School of the Year: Bayview Community School, Mahone Bay
• Best Community-Based Environmental Project: Dump and Run, Acadia University, Wolfville
• Environmental Volunteer of the Year: Richard Ward

"Nova Scotians have come a long way over the six years since the implementation of the solid waste-resource management strategy and the subsequent creation of the deposit-refund system for beverage containers," said Derek Firth, RRFB Nova Scotia's chief operating officer. "Recycling and composting have become the norm in this province, thanks to the co-operation of the Department of Environment and Labour, the municipalities of Nova Scotia and the people of our beautiful province."

Since 1996, Nova Scotians have diverted from disposal 50 per cent of their waste through reducing, reusing, recycling and composting. More than one billion beverage containers and over 3.3 million tires have been recycled, and nearly $30 million has been given to Nova Scotian municipalities to offset their costs in expanding waste management services for residents.

"Through proper management of our solid waste resources, we have created more than a thousand jobs and made our province a more beautiful and a healthier place for our environmental champions of the future," said David Morse, Minister of Environment and Labour.

Scotia Recycling Ltd. and Atlantic Recycled Rubber were the gold and silver sponsors for this year's Solid Waste-Resource Awards.