Innovation Networks

An Innovation Monthly Newsletter Article

New online tools showcase impact of recycling for time-crunched Canadians

Source - News Canada - November, 2008

NC)-With each passing year, Canadians become more efficient with their recycling habits and routines. But life's hectic pace means we're still learning how these recycling practices have an impact on a larger scale and new online tools are making it easier to calculate.

"Most Canadians don't know that recycling a plastic bottle saves 70 per cent of the energy that would otherwise be used to create one from scratch," explains Paul Edney, Director of Inspire Community and co-author of best-selling book, Change the World for 10 Bucks. "If we all understood the impact of recycling one plastic bottle, we'd probably be a lot better at making sure more of them stay out of the waste stream."

Edney recently developed an interactive online recycling tracker, supported by the Aquafina brand, which aims to help Canadian families easily measure how their actions make a difference. He recommends the following web sites where Canadians can find simple and fun recycling tools and calculators:

• aquafinatracker.ca : Tracks recycling actions to understand the positive impact of recycling even a single plastic PET bottle or aluminum can.
• blueboxmore.ca : Provides a useful list "conversionator" that turns recycling facts into fun.
• zerofootprintkids.com : A resource for teachers to creatively use recyclables in the classroom.
• yousustain.com : An interactive web site with games and quizzes to test recycling know-how.
• Waste-O-Meter : The Waste-O-Meter is a gauge that shows how much waste goes into BC's landfills through the Municipal Solid Waste System.

Edney believes that it's important to understand how recycling has a tangible impact in order to stay inspired. "For example, PET plastic containers are one of the most highly recycled materials and they can be repurposed as polar fleece, broadloom, rope, brush bristles, and household furnishing," he says. "By tracking recycling actions with easy to use online tools, we see how helping to change the world is a lot easier than we all think."

Source - News Canada