Spring 2006 Eco Newsletter, EcoSuperior

8/8/2019 Spring 2006 Eco Newsletter, EcoSuperior

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March 2006

Help is now available for hundreds of area well own-ers who may be concerned about the safety of their drink-ing water. The Well Aware program, offering informationkits and home visits by a trained well water advisor, isnow available through EcoSuperior.

Millions of rural residents rely on drinking water fromprivate wells that are unregulated, often untested foryears and could be at risk for contamination, says a reportreleased last month by a panel of experts at Queen’sUniversity.

The report highlights serious concerns about the lack of data with regard to the safety of drinking water fromprivate wells.

“Anecdotally, we feel that many people drink contam-inated water and become sick, but to prove that would bedifficult,” said Kent Novakowski, a hydrogeologist andassociate professor of engineering at Queens.

Ensuring that the water from a private well is safe todrink remains the responsibility of its owner. But manyprivate well owners do not regularly test their water, andmost are not aware of factors that may put their waterquality at risk.

EcoSuperior offered the Well Aware program in2003/04, but funding was not available last year. One of

the recommendations of the new report included thatthe province expand its outreach and education pro-grams for well owners.

Well Aware encourages Ontario’s residential wellowners to protect their wells and our common ground-water supplies. Well Aware is a project of GreenCommunities Canada and has received funding supportfrom the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

Well Aware home visits, conducted by trained WaterGuides, help rural well owners identify priorities foraction to protect their drinking water source. The visits,which are voluntary, confidential, and non-regulatory,guide well owners through a self-assessment to helpidentify and address potential risks to their well water.However, funding is still limited this year, and only 80home visits will be available on a first-come, firstserved basis. The service takes about 2 hours, and allinformation provided during the visit remains confiden-tial. EcoSuperior supplies water testing sample bottlesfrom the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, a waterconservation kit for wells within the City of ThunderBay, and a set of Well Aware drinking glasses.

To schedule an appointment or pick up an informa-tion kit, please contact EcoSuperior at 624-2140.

“In the two years that we offered the program, notone of the wells I saw met the provincial standard,”says Brad Bida, EcoSuperior’s Well Aware advisor.

“Most well owners have very limited knowledge of their well’s construction, and even less understandingof how to protect the water quality. Everyone who par-ticipated was very interested in the information webrought.”

The report estimates that there are roughly 950,000private wells across the province with an additional10,000 to 20,000 new wells dug each year. As well,roughly 500,000 private wells have been abandoned inOntario. Abandoned wells are also of concern becausethey can provide a ready pathway for contaminants toother nearby wells. A copy of the report and its recom-

mendations is available at the Ontario Centres of Excellence website, located atwww.oce-ontario.org/pages/news_SWWI_report.php

By Jane Oldale, Superior Renewable Energy Cooperative

The Ontario government recently announced Canada’sfirst subsidy to homeowners or businesses that install solarelectric power. An incentive of 42 cents for every kilo-watt-hour of power produced will be available. The hopeis that this initiative will kick-start the renewable energyindustry that is lagging far behind other countries.

But will it have homeowners lining up to purchasesolar panels? Here’s a scenario that will help put theprice tag into perspective.

An expenditure of approximately $35,000 will buy asystem, complete with solar electric panels (photovolta-ic or PV panels), mounting structure, special inverterand controller, all safety switches, installed, inspected,approved, ready to go. One could spend much more, orless if they chose, with a corresponding increase ordecrease in the amount of energy production. This is

just one example.The solar array for this price would be nominal 2.4

kW in peak output, and would measure about 20 ft by 10ft (3 x 6 m). At a good unshaded site in our relativelysunny part of Ontario, this array would generate on aver-age between 8 and 9 kilowatt hours (kWhr) per day,some days much more and some days much less. At 42cents per kWhr the income from this $35,000 expendi-ture would average between $3 and $4 per day.

A typical Ontario household uses between 25 and 35kWhr per day. With some serious efforts towards effi-ciency and conservation it is possible to reduce dailyconsumption down to 10 kWhr, without restrictivelifestyle changes. It might be challenging to do this if

the household includes teenagers.

The Scoopon Solar Subsidies

Inside• Spring Up to Clean Up

• Green Drinks

• Citizen’s Stream Monitoring Project

• Washing Machine Rebates

• New Deluxe Oak Rainbarrels

The Scoop on Solar Subsidies is Continued on Page 2

Everyone is invited to visit our office and resource centre at 212 Miles Street East (between May & Simpson), on Friday, April21, from noon to 4 p.m. Drop in and see what’s new, and learn how to get involved in our latest programs and projects. Coffee,

juice and treats will be served.Visit our displays on water conservation programs such as the new Washing Machine rebates, outdoor water conservation kits

and citizen’s stream monitoring. Find out more about EnerGuide for Houses, mercury in products and hazardous waste. You can

also purchase your composter, rain barrel, blue bags or organic seeds, or pick up your kit for Spring Up to Clean Up. Everyone iswelcome…see you there!

Earth Day Open House at EcoSuperior

Well water at risk?



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Community Partners

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 2

EcoNews is produced by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs. Look for our regu-

lar editions in your Chronicle Journal every April and October. All the articles are

written by EcoSuperior staff unless otherwise credited. We are a non-profit organiza-

tion, providing public education in the areas of water and energy conservation, waste

reduction, pollution prevention and urban greenspaces. Our program area includes thecity of Thunder Bay & the Lake Superior region. If you would like to comment on ourprograms, please contact us: 212 Miles Street East, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 1J6

Telephone: 807-624-2140 • Facsimile: 807-622-0005 • www.ecosuperior.com • [email protected]

The many community programs and projects that you

will read about in this newsletter would not be possiblewithout the efforts of those who finance and contributeto EcoSuperior’s activities. Through contributions of ideas, connections, expertise and financial support, thefollowing organizations have played a major role in oursuccess. We extend our sincere gratitude to the individ-uals within these organizations that have helped usalong the way.

• City of Thunder Bay

• Environment Canada

• Thunder Bay District Health Unit

• Thunder Bay Police

• Thunder Bay Hydro

• Ontario Ministry of the Environment

• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

• Ontario Power Authority

• Green$aver

• Great Lakes Sustainability Fund

• Green Communities Canada

• Ontario Trillium Foundation

• Home Depot• EverGreen

• Lakehead Catholic District School Board

• Ecole Catholique Franco-Superieur

• Union Gas

• Bowater

• The Chronicle-Journal

• Dougall Media

• Zero Waste Action Team

• ReCool Canada

• Ontario Power Generation

In addition to the list above, we must thank the manylocal businesses who make it possible for people tomake the right choices; the local media that help usspread the word, and many volunteer and committeemembers who provide invaluable assistance.

So many products are advertised that seem to be sucha no-brainer--who would possibly buy them?! You’veall seen the ads. Perfumed oil being blown around the

house (by a fan, or Mom on a stationary bicycle) tomask those awful household odours? And now you canplug them in (wasting electricity!) to ensure that thosechemical vapours penetrate every area of the home. Andthey’re refillable! – another item to add to the grocerylist, and don’t be concerned about your (or the kids’)

asthma or sinusitis – just think about how inexpensivethey are compared to the cost of those inhalers. Reallypeople, are we that easily influenced by advertisers?

You can freshen the air just by opening a window nowand then! Think twice before you purchase items likeartificial air fresheners, in any form. One – Do I reallyneed the item? Two – if so, does the product containingredients that could it be harmful to my family?

Watch for more employee rants coming to our web site.

On a good sunny spring day such as the ones we'vebeen having lately, the system could generate 12 kWhr,earning $5.04. That same day the family may use let’s say

8 kWhr from the grid forlights, the dishwasher, TV,computer, etc. At 6 cents perkWhr they'll spend 48 cents,

netting $4.56 for that day. Acloudy November day wouldbe a much different scenario.If the water heating, spaceheating, and cooking in thishouse use electricity, thedaily consumption will beconsiderably higher.

So for those consideringtaking the plunge to solar PVelectricity and wanting toknow about payback, theycan do the math from here.

One factor that makes this difficult to calculate is the costof electricity per kWhr this year, next year, and in 25years. By the way, those solar panels will still be produc-ing electricity in 50 years for your grandkids, or for whenyou decide to sell the house, which will, no doubt, appre-ciate in value as the price of energy goes up (my crystalball says, yes, it will go up).

To add another perspective, many households willmake a similar-sized $35,000 expenditure on a new vehi-

cle. Then there's the fuel for it ... and today that's 95 cents,oops no, $1.05 a Litre. No pay-back. Not now, never.And that car depreciates significantly as soon as you driveit off the lot and probably won't be worth much at all in tenyears.

I look at my investment in renewable energy as part of my RRSP portfolio, assuring me free energy as long as Ilive in my house, as long as the sun comes up in themorning. I won't have to worry if I can afford to keep thelights on when I'm old, no matter how much the price of electricity rises. Add to that no greenhouse gas emis-sions or radioactive waste and solar electricity is natural-ly a good choice for me.

About Eco-News

Employee Rant

The Scoop on Solar Subsidies Continued from Page 1

EcoSuperior offers several different products for sale at

our resource centre this spring. Drop into 212 MilesStreet East to check out the following items. We are openweekdays from 8:30 to 4:30. Our library and resourcecentre also has a great deal of information that is avail-able on loan or free of charge, from books to videos.

Blue BagsGet set for a year’s worth of recycling with rolls of 50clear blue bags for just $10. No packaging – ready to use!

CompostersThe Earth Machine composter is available to city resi-dents for just $20. We can also help you out with advice

on any composting questions or problems.

Aimers Organic Seeds

Start growing your own with a fullline of vegetable, herb and wild-flower seeds, all from certifiedorganic growers. While you’rehere, browse through our libraryfor more information on organicgardening.

Rain BarrelsWe will have rain barrels in stock by early May. These will be avail-able to Thunder Bay residents with

a current water account for $35.

What’s for sale?

Paul Fitzpatrick, CA*Rick Trochimchuk, CA*Moe Siemieniuk, CA • CBV*

Marcel Gagnon, CA*Steve Blazino, CA*

Tammy Wylie, CGA CA*

*Professional Corporation

210 - 1205 Amber Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6M4(807) 623-2141 Fax: (807) 622-1282

www.fitzpatrickandpartners.com email: [email protected]



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New Oak

Rain Barrels

Be Cautious with

Cosmetics

Green Drinks International

Washing Machine Rebates

If you are looking for a super-de-dooper deluxe rain barrel, we have one for you!

By special order only, EcoSuperior and the City of Thunder Bay are now offering abarrel made from a genuine white oak whisky barrel. Itcomes fully equipped with high quality hardware includingbrass shut off and hose hanger, see-through hose, water filterbasket and overflow. Capacity is 50 gallons. This is a solidunit, weighing in at 110 pounds (empty!), so you will needassistance and a truck to take one home.

Check out the display model at our office, 212 Miles StreetEast (between May and Simpson), to place an order and makea deposit. A City of Thunder Bay Water Account Number isrequired to order one at the subsidized price of $125.

To see more details about this product, you can also visithttp://www.atlantichort.com/en/products/barrel-planters/ white-oak-rain-barrel.html

“Chemicals have replaced bacteria and viruses as the main threat to health. The

diseases we are beginning to see as the major causes of death in the latter part of (the1900s) and into the 21st century are diseases of chemical origin.” says Dr. Dick Irwin, Toxicologist, Texas A&M University

We are becoming more and more aware of the risks associated with householdcleaning products, pesticides and off-gassing of carpets and furniture – but have youever considered cosmetics?

Start by looking in your cosmetic bag--have you ever wondered what your beau-ty aids contain in the way of chemicals? Nail polishes, eye shadows, wrinkleremovers, moisturizers, foundations, and the list goes on, with many containingharmful chemicals such as phthalates. Phthalates are clear, odorless chemicals thatfeel like vegetable oil.

In various forms, they have been used for almost a century in industry. They:

• Make vinyl flooring flexible and colorfast.• Keep nail polish from chipping.• Keep screwdriver handles from shattering.• Make fragrances in cosmetics and household products last longer.• Slow release of drugs in time-release pills.

Source: Phthalate Esters Panel of the American Chemistry Council, Arlington, Va

Phthalates are strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutations and birthdefects. Some companies, such as The Body Shop, have removed all phthalatesfrom their products. Many reproductive toxins are common ingredients in person-al care items, but may not be listed on the label. Be cautious when using or pur-chasing such products.

On any given day, a consumer may use as many 25 different cosmetics and per-sonal care products containing more than 200 different chemical compounds. Thenext time you go to purchase cosmetics for yourself or your child, please consider if such products may be doing more harm than good.

According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org), Avon,Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Revlon, Procter and Gamble and Unilever have refused tosign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, that asks companies to pledge to use onlyingredients that are not known or suspected of causing cancer, mutation, birth defectsand other health harms.

So how can you find the least toxic beauty and cleaning products? Check out theGuide to Less Toxic Products www.lesstoxicguide.ca . This site provides informationabout potential health risks of commonly used household products and helps identi-fy less toxic alternatives for personal care (cosmetics), household cleaning, babycare, et cetera.

No, it’s not a belated St.Patrick’s Day event —Green Drinks is actuallya world-wide endeavor.Once a month in citiesaround the world, peoplewho work in the environ-

mental field get togetherto share a drink and con-versation. All of us atEcoSuperior decided it’sabout time for Thunder Bay tobe one of more than 118 cities involved.

You can find more information atwww.greendrinks.org and see the list of countries and cities now participating.Canada is a recent addition to the list, butthere are now regular Green Drinksevents in Peterborough, Hamilton,

Vancouver, Halifax, London, Toronto

and Vancouver. As they say at theCanberra, Australia event: “Thebeer’s not green, but we are!”

Who: Everyone with aninterest in the environment iswelcome, example: volunteers,

NGOs, academia, govern-

ment, entrepreneurs, envi-ronmental students, field nat-

uralists, in short—anyonewho likes to talk about

environmental stuff! Just walk up toanyone and say “Are you green?” foran introduction to lots of like-mindedpeople.

When:Wednesday, April 12, 5 p.m tillwhenever, at The Keg. We’ll take a poll atthis first event to decide a regular timeand date for the rest of the year. Watch

www.ecosuperior.com for updates. 660 Squier Street (off Central Ave. between Memorial & Balmoral) Mon. to Sat. 9-5

TIME TO RENOVATE? Let us help with the hassle andcost of taking out the old and getting ready for the new. Our dedicatedvolunteers can remove for you: Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Fixtures,Doors, Windows, Siding and Much More AT NO COST to you!

Get your free assessment today!We will leave the space ready for your new upgrade.

Call Brent or Keith today at 346-4884

Choosing an energy efficient appli-ance will help to reduce greenhouse gasemissions and save money on your utili-ty bills. And now, EcoSuperior and theCity of Thunder Bay are offering anadditional incentive: Purchase an Energy

Star rated front-loadingclothes washing machineand you can apply for a$100 rebate to your citywater account. Rebates areavailable for appliances pur-chased after April 15, 2006.There are a limited numberof rebates available thatwill be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Energy Star qualified clothes washershelp you save money on utility bills byusing less water and energy while clean-ing clothes thoroughly. Energy Star ratedwashing machines use approximately45% less water and approximately 65%less energy than traditional models. Theycan easily save you $45 per year and useup to 2/3 less detergent. They are alsomuch more gentle on your clothes,

because they wash by tumbling, ratherthan stirring, the garments.

Energy Star qualified clothes washersfeature sensors that prevent energy wasteby matching water needs to the size of each load and advanced high-speed

motors that reduce the lengthof spin cycles and removemore water from clothes, soless time and energy areneeded for drying. Use coldwater to wash, and you’ll saveeven more energy!

To apply for your rebate,contact our office.

You will require a copy of your purchase receipt, printed con-

firmation of the make and model pur-chased, and your city water accountnumber.

You might also want to ask for detailson the 6-litre toilet rebate-- $125 crediton your water bill when you have a par-ticipating plumber replace an old, water-wasting toilet with a new 6-litre model.Start conserving water and savingmoney…get all the details at 624-2140!



Well spring has officially sprung! Thesnow is melting, the sun is shining, andthere is a crisp, fresh air. It’s a great time toget outdoors and enjoy our City. But enjoy-ing our community is not much fun withloads of litter scattered about. That is whyspring is the perfect time to clean it up!

That is exactly what the City of Thunder Bay has been doing for the past10 years. This year we are celebratingthe 10th Anniversary of our municipalclean up month. It all began back in1996, when 10-year old ElizabethDeBakker, a student at Ecole GronMorgan, complained about the litteraround the city in a heartfelt deputationto City Council. Since then, the City of Thunder Bay and thousands of its resi-dents have shown that they care bycleaning it up each spring.

But what are we celebrating thisyear? Are we celebrating the fact that weare STILL cleaning up tons of garbage,even after 10 years of trying to cut itdown? After all, everyone knows that weshouldn’t litter in the first place: remem-ber the 3 R’s? By reducing, re-using, andrecycling, we can prevent litter. That’swhat it’s all about. After all, this is our10th year! We can’t keep cleaning upmesses forever! We have to start learn-ing how to take CARE of our communi-

ty, all year round

This year will be a special celebra-

tion, and Elizabeth DeBakker, now a 20-year old student at McGill University, isexcited about it. But will there beimprovement? The only way to know forsure is to get out there and see! We needto stop littering, but we also need to careenough to clean our City. Organize yourgroup of friends, family, co-workers orclub members, pick a date and register atwww.ecosuperior.com now, and we’llsupply you with garbage and recyclingbags, gloves and prizes.

Spring Up to Clean Up has been anextraordinarily popular event since thebeginning, and that tells us that there areindeed a lot of caring community resi-dents. In the first year, there were over5,000 participants, and every year sincethen there has been over 10,000 partici-pants cleaning over 100 areas of theCity. That is quite impressive. We hopethat this year, even more volunteers willparticipate, and help us get the messageof litter prevention across to those who

don’t take part.

Litter Prevention

One organization was created solelyfor the purpose of getting the litter pre-vention message out. Litter FreeThunder Bay was launched in 2004, andits mission includes such notable goalsas “Uniting Thunder Bay in action toprevent littering, strengthening the visu-al appeal, economic viability and qualityof life of Thunder Bay” & “Encouraging

pride in the beauty of our communityand in its care”. This a small, but dedi-cated group, and you have no doubt seentheir trashcans around town. You willalso hear their catchy jingle on the radioand see their “don’t be a litter bug” logoin many places. Many of the litter pre-vention initiatives that have taken placehave been due to the efforts of this hard-working group of citizens.

Recognizing that the City also has tobe cleaned up, Litter Free Thunder Bayis also actively taking part in the SpringClean Up. Their message seems to havetaken hold within the community.Recently, a concerned group of Ogden-community members have begun theirown weekly community cleanups.Neighbours Volunteering for Change arelong-time clean up participants whoENJOY going out to take care of thecommunity, and would like to do it moreregularly. They’re making it a socialactivity, where people can get togetherweekly and keep our City Clean oneblock at a time. They would like to

encourage anyone who is interested to

join them. Their next meeting is 24 Aprilat 7p.m. at St. Luke's Anglican Churchon Cameron St. Their website is:www.simpsonogden.ca.

Register Your Clean Up Now

Those interested in participating inthe Spring Up this year may go to ourwebsite and register their groups online,or download the form and fax it to us.Any number of participants is allowed,and groups may clean the area of theirchoice, any time during the month of May. Groups will receive a landfill passfor that month, as well gloves, bags andprizes.

Many thanks go out to our sponsorsthis year: Tim Hortons, Ontario PowerGeneration, and Litter Free Thunder

Bay. Tim Horton’s will be providingrefreshments at the Launch and wrap-upevents, as well as donating prizes. Theyare also making an extra effort this yearto make people environmentally-aware.They have a message on all of their cof-fee cups telling people not to litter, aswell as offering a discount to anyonewho brings a reusable travel mug forcoffee. They are very concerned aboutwhat people do with their cups, andwould like to promote the message of

prevention. There will also be mediacoverage and regular updates on ourwebsite of the month-long event. Onceagain we would like to see schools, busi-nesses, and residents cleaning up parks,roadways, recreational trails, sportsfields, downtown, the waterfront, and asmany places as we can.

Get Involved!

Have you noticed an area that is par-ticularly unsightly with litter? Let usknow, and we can provide a list of such

areas to groups who are not sure where

to clean up. Interested in knowingmore about these efforts in ThunderBay? Keep an eye on our website dur-ing the month of May! Want to nomi-nate an outstanding citizen who hasgone above and beyond what most do tokeep our City clean/ Let us know whothey are. For more information, phoneSabrina Heerema-Agostino, at 624-2140, or visit the EcoSuperior website atwww.ecosuperior.com and click on theSpring Up to Clean Up link.

10th Anniversary Launch

The Launch Event for Spring Up toClean Up will take place Monday May1st, at Ecole Gron Morgan. Mayor LynnPetersen, students and staff will be there,along with special guest ElizabethDebakker. Everyone is welcome toattend! Celebration dessert and refresh-ments will be provided. Make 2006 acelebration of pride in our community.

Let’s keep it clean, and have fun doing it!

Adopt A Road

You are probably wondering, “whatcan I do throughout the year to help keepthe city clean?” Residents can alsoAdopt A Road, which they will beresponsible for cleaning a minimum of three times a year. For more informationon Adopting a Road, please call KenSinclair, 474-4834. Transportation &

Works Division provides a training ses-sion and your group will be suppliedwith gloves/bags/any equipment youneed for cleaning up your area.

Cover Your Loads

Did you know that the City has a by-law requiring trucks or trailers haulinggarbage to ensure that loads aresecured and covered? There are finesapplicable to those who allow garbageto blow out of that pick-up, or don’tbother to pick up the bag of trash thatrolls off their trailer. Ask anyone wholives enroute to the landfill site, eitheron John Street Road or Mapleward,and they will tell you the effects of careless people who haul uncoveredloads. The roads in the area are regu-larly strewn with garbage that couldhave so easily been prevented.

Thanks to all who participate in SpringUp to Clean Up! Your efforts make a bigdifference!

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LitterFree Thunder Bay, with the support of local businesses and City Hall, has installed several trash and recycling receptacles as part of its Adopt A

Trash Can program.

Spring Up to Clean Up 2006:10th Anniversary

Here’s one reason why we need a spring clean up – Litter in back lanes is really out of control in some places.





Our Spring Up Coordinator

Plastic Bag Problems

New BusinessRecycles Tires & More

Meet Sabrina Heerema-Agostinowho is coordinating the clean upefforts of thousands of volunteers

across the city this spring. Sabrinais new to EcoSuperior, and a

graduate of St. Andrew University in

Scotland. “It’s so encouraging to see so many city residents gettinginvolved in the cleanup,” she says,“And our 10th Anniversary launchis going to be a really exciting event

that incorporates a lot of the history of how our municipal clean up month began.” If you have questions or would like to register your group’s or school’s neighbourhood clean up, call her at 624-2140 or e-mail her at [email protected]

What happens when area landfills no

longer accept tires or refrigerators?Landfill bans and high recycling costscreate a situation where many of theseitems end up stashed in backyards, or inthe ditches of area roads less traveled.

Eclipse Recycling is a new companyproviding pick up and disposal of tires,old refrigerators, freezers, and air con-ditioning units. For a very reasonablefee, Eclipse will safely remove thefreon from old refrigeration units, andrecycle the metal in these appliances.

The company also offers pick up &removal of any type of tires. These ser-vices are available to the general publicas well as businesses.

“Leaving old tires around creates ahome for mosquitoes and other unwant-ed wildlife,” says owner/entrepreneurCharles MacLaurin, “not to mention thefire hazard. And releasing freon fromold appliances is dangerous to theozone layer. It’s a fact of life that somethings that are easy to obtain, are sovery hard to get rid of.”

Eclipse Recycling aims to help people

dispose of these items in a safe, and costeffective way. Check it out! Call EclipseRecycling at 622-3164.

Old tires are becoming a huge waste disposal problem, but one local entrepreneur is turning a problem into an opportunity. Eclipse Recycling is now providing safe disposal for old tires as well as old refrigerators and air conditioners.

• A person’s use of a plastic check-out bag can be counted in minutes – howeverlong it takes to get from the store to your home. Plastic bags however, can takebetween 15 and 1000 years to break down in the environment.

• In the marine environment plastic bag litter is lethal, killing at least 100,000birds, whales, seals and turtles every year. After an animal is killed by plasticbags its body decomposes and the plastic is released back into the environmentwhere it can kill again.

• Plastic bags are not free to consumers – they are actually adding to the cost of your groceries.

• The amount of petroleum used to make one plastic bag would drive a car about115 metres. The 6.9 billion plastic check-out bags we use every year is enoughto drive a car 800 million kilometres or nearly 20,000 times around the world.

• Not all litter is deliberate. 47% of wind borne litter escaping from landfills isplastic – much of this is plastic bags.

• Only 5% of plastic grocery bags are currently being recycled, despite recyclingfacilities being available at major supermarkets.

• Plastic bags are a by-product of the oil industry.

• In the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, where they have a Ministry forHappiness, new laws are being introduced to coincide with opening to the west.Bhutan wants to protect itself from the Westernization problems many othercountries have experienced, therefore they have banned wrestling on TV, tobac-co and plastic shopping bags.

Adapted from www.plasticshoppingbagfree.org/nz




Burn Barrel/Rain BarrelExchange Program

Giant Pumpkins of the Compost Pile for Hymers Fall Fair 2006

If you burn garbage, it’s time to stop.

For added encouragement, EcoSuperiorwill give you a free rain barrel inexchange for your backyard burn barrel.

Townships near the city will have aunique opportunity this spring to take partin an exchange program presented byEcoSuperior, Environment Canada andthe Ontario Ministry of the Environment.Shuniah, Dorion, Conmee , Gi ll ies,O’Connor, Neebing and Oliver-Paipoongetownship residents who presently burntheir garbage will be able to receive a free

rain barrel in exchange for a pledge to

stop the polluting practice.Burning garbage produces significant

amounts of dioxin, an endocrine disruptorand known carcinogen. One of the largestsources of dioxin in Ontario is the burningof residential garbage, and a backyardburn barrel produces many times theamount of dioxin produced by a largescale incinerator. This is because backyardburning takes place at lower temperatures,not sufficient to completely incinerate thetoxins. Dioxin is produced whether burn-

ing occurs in a fireplace, woodstove, out-

door furnace or burn barrel.Starting April 8, township residents

should take their burn barrel to their locallandfill site, and ask the landfill attendantfor a Rain Barrel Exchange Certificate.Rain barrels can be picked up from Pack Pros Plus, 520 Waterloo Street South, nolater than June 30. Limit one per house-hold, and you must present the certificatewhen you pick up your rainbarrel. Oldburn barrels should be placed in the metalrecycling area of your local landfill.

If you can grow a good vegetable garden, you have the skillto grow a world-record pumpkin. With the right preparationand strategy now, next fall you might just be a contender forthe Hymer’s Agricultural Fair on Labour Day Weekend!

The focus on pumpkin growing for the Fair is cultivating

with compost rather than chemicals, merging education oncomposting with the fun of larger-than-usualpumpkins.

If you ask 10 competitive pumpkin growershow to grow a giant pumpkin, you're likelyto get 10 different answers. It seems every-one has his or her own way of coaxing 500 lb.weight out of these giants. But there is a threadof consistency that runs throughout all theinstructions, and adhering to three basic tenets:

1. Good seed (such as, Atlantic Giant)

2. Enough water &

3. Lots of compost. Providing adequate nutrientsthroughout the growing season will insure healthy,vigorous vines, not to mention large pumpkins. The addi-tion of organic matter (manure, etc.) to the garden is impor-tant to establish good soil. Pumpkins are heavy feeders!Provide lots of compost.

Remember: for the Hymer’s Fair Giant Pumpkin contest, therules are:

1. Use only compost to prepare your soil (no chemical fertil-izers/supplements allowed).

2. No force feeding of nutrients through thevines.

3. The pumpkin must be grown outdoorsalthough the seeds can be germinated

inside and transplanted outside inthe early spring.

Hint: from Tina Parker, a sea-soned Gillies township gardener –grow your pumpkins inside old

tires. Between the compost and theblack colour of the tire, the soil will

stay warm and provide an excellent grow-ing environment for your Giant Pumpkin.Enjoy the fun of competing with other pumpkin growers to

win gardening tools and for the fun of seeing your pumpkinselected as the Giant of the Compost! Entry forms are avail-able from the Hymer’s Agricultural Society 475-8586. See youat the Fair!

email: [email protected] www.sunwindwater.com

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April 7 to 9Yard ‘n Garden Show at the CLE –visit our booth!

April 12Green Drinks, 5 p.m. at The Keg,See article page 3

April 20EarthWise Thunder Bay presents“The End of Suburbia”, a documentaryon oil depletion, 7 p.m. at WaverleyLibrary auditorium

April 21

Open House at EcoSuperior April 22Earth Day

May 1Spring Up to Clean Up Launch,10 a.m. Ecole Gron Morgan

May 1 to 30Spring Up to Clean Up month

May 7 to 14

Free Tipping Week atJohn Street Landfill

May 11 to 13Chamber of Commerce Trade show.Visit our Booth in the Coliseum

May 13 to 19Arbor Week in Thunder Bay

June 3Hazardous Waste Collection forNeebing, Oliver-Paipoonge, Conmee,

Gillies, O’Connor

June 7Clean Air Day

July 16Lake Superior Day – check out theEcoFair at Chippewa Park




345-1491Toll Free 866-345-1492

183 S. ALGOMA ST.www.maierhardware.com

NOT JUST PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, TOOLS, HEATERS, PUMPS, FLAGS, BANNERS, COMPOSTING TOILETS

S O L A R

E L E C T R I C

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Higher Grants for Electric Heat

EcoSuperior and several local businesses are taking part in a pilot program toassist small businesses with reducing energy costs. In partnership with OntarioPower Authority, Enbridge Gas and Green$aver (a Toronto-based non-profit), weare providing business owners with free energy assessments.

The study is geared toward small, locally owned greengrocers, delis and restau-rants. EcoSuperior’s energy advisors will sit down with each business owner and gothrough a detailed assessment of energy use, complete an inventory of existing

equipment and usage, and provide a written report with recommendations on wheresavings can be found. The service focuses on cooking and refrigeration equipment,ventilation, lighting and more.

“There are often some low-cost ways to find significant savings, particularly inolder facilities,” says Andy Heics, the program trainer and energy consultant withGreen$aver. “Items such as occupancy sensors for lighting, timers for heating andcooling and faucet aerators can make a real difference.”

In order to qualify for the program, businesses should have:

• Electricity bills less than $2,500 per month

• Less than 10,000 square feet

• Been in operation at least two years

• Separate meters

Fresco’s Deli, Porto Divino Restaurant and Gargoyles Grill & Ale are among thefirst businesses to participate. If you have an eligible business and would like tolearn more, please contact Ellen Mortfield at 624-2140.

Small Business Energy Study

In February, the federal government announced anincreased incentive through the EnerGuide for Housesprogram for homes exclusively heated by electricity.Homeowners can participate in the home energy con-sultation service in the usual process, but if they followup on recommended upgrades and make changes, theywill be eligible for higher grant amounts.

For owners to be eligible for the supplementalincentive for electrically-heated homes, the house mustmeet the following requirements:

• The house must be 100% electrically-heated at thetime of the first and second evaluations

• The energy efficiency of the building envelope mustbe sufficiently improved to trigger an EGH incentive

• The 2nd evaluation was performed after Feb. 1, 2006.

Owners who switch fuels between the two evalua-tions are not eligible for this incentive. The supple-mental incentive is calculated based on a multiplier that

applies only to the amount shown on the EGH incen-tive chart. This multiplier is 1.385. For example, anincentive of $650 entitles the homeowner to a $250supplement.

To be considered 100 percent electrically-heated,the house must only have one of the following heatingsystems installed: electric baseboards, electric forcedair furnace, electric hydronic system, electric radiantceiling panels, electric radiant floor panels or groundsource heat pump.

In addition to the extra incentive from the feds, our

local utility also has a bonus for electrically heatedhomes. When you book your initial energy assessmentwith EcoSuperior, you receive a rebate of $35 on yourThunder Bay Hydro account.

The EnerGuide for Houses service and the federalgrant program is available to homes with any type of heating system, at a cost of $150 for the initial testing,and $50 for the post-renovation evaluation. Rentalproperties are also eligible.

More than 300 homeowners participated in the pro-gram last year. Twenty-eight percent have completedtheir renovations and follow-up evaluation and foundan average 33% savings in space heating costs. Fordetails, contact our certified energy evaluator, DonRutledge, at 624-2140.

Andy Heics from Green$aver (left) and Don Rutledge, EcoSuperior (right) recently completed a small business energy study at Porto Divino Ristorante. Our thanks to manager Cheryl Zuk (centre) for her participation in our newest energy conservation program.




PollutionPreventionUpdates

DUTCHAK RECYCLE

C a s h f o r S c r a p

Buyers of Scrap Non-Ferrous Metals

We pay cash for: Copper, Insulated Cable,Brass, Lead, Stainless

Steel, CatalyticConverters, Radiators,Lead Acid Batteries,

Aluminum – IncludingPop Cans!

623-39791020 Carrick St.

(Intercity Area)

C a l l

Study our StreamsThe ecological health of Lake Superior is determined in

large part by the health of its tributary streams. These water-courses support resident fish species, sustain healthy native ani-mal and plant populations, provide wildlife corridors, and, at

the same time, contribute nutrient and sediment loads to LakeSuperior. In fact, we can determine the health of Lake Superiorusing these water systems.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Act adopted an indicatorspecies approach to assess ecosystem health. Benthic inverte-brates (creatures that live at the bottom of streams) respond toecosystem changes faster than other members of the aquaticcommunity. Trends and changes in aquatic invertebrate popula-tions and community structure can serve as indicators of short-term, action-required stresses that may ultimately influence theaquatic community of Lake Superior.

To date, we have established Regional Reference Values for

benthic macroinvertebrate communities in fifteen local,‘healthy’ Lake Superior tributary streams that can be used todetermine the biological health of selectedsites in areas that are believed to be impaired.Demonstration sites (i.e., impacted areaswith possibility for restoration) will beselected to determine the effectiveness of watercourse rehabilitation efforts as mea-sured by changes in invertebrate communi-ties. Ten additional reference sites have beenselected between Nipigon and Sault Ste.Marie.

The stewardship component involvespublic education and the creation of a user-friendly stream monitoring program that willenable the general public to sample streamcommunities to determine local water quali-ty conditions.

To get involved, ask for your copy of ourCitizen’s Guide to Monitoring Water Quality,which will be printed later this spring. Wewill also be offering training workshops forcommunity volunteers and school groups.The project also includes school presenta-

tions and trading cards for younger children.

Community based monitoring programs involve thousandsof citizens, and provide an essential early-warning system thatidentifies critical problem areas.

“If you have a favourite walking trail along a local stream or

a fishing spot that’s important to you, the Citizen Monitoringprogram can be a great way to help protect it,” says projectcoordinator Lucie Lavoie.

The results of this project will be added to the OntarioBenthos Biomonitoring Network. Preliminary results indicatethat the information collected from reference sites inNorthwestern Ontario differs significantly from that gathered insouthern Ontario, supporting the need for the project in thisregion.

We thank the following partners for supporting this project:Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, North Shore SteelheadAssociation, Lake Superior Binational Forum, City of Thunder

Bay, Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, Department of Fisheriesand Oceans.

Area residents will soon be able to participate in our new monitoring program to assess and track water

quality by observing samples of bugs and other water creatures from nearby streams & rivers.

Volunteers will soon be hard atwork again this

spring in our Natural EnvironmentGardens onCentral Avenue.Watch for manyimprovements to

the garden this year thanks to the support of Home Depot and EverGreen through the Rebuilding NatureGrant program.We will be addinginterpretive

signage as well as fencing to make the gardens moreeducational and

attractive. Don’t

miss the springwildflowers in full

bloom!

• Many commonly used householditems contain mercury than can causeharm to both human health and theenvironment. If you spill mercury(from a thermometer, thermostat, etc),never vacuum the spill as this canspread mercury vapour. If possible,carefully move the spilled mercuryinto one location using a stiff piece of paper. Store in a secure jar or contain-er and take it to your hazardous wastedepot. Mercury vapour is extremelytoxic.

• If you are changing fluorescent lightbulbs at home, spent bulbs up to fourfeet can be brought to our office forrecycling. Commercial businesses cantake spent bulbs to MGM Electric,724 Macdonell Street. If you arereplacing your furnace thermostat,make sure the old one goes to a col-lection depot, available through mostlocal heating contractors.

• Rural townships near Thunder Bay willbe able to participate in a HouseholdHazardous Waste Collection comingup in early June. Ask your municipaloffice for details.

Spring 2006 Eco Newsletter, EcoSuperior

Documents

Transcript of Spring 2006 Eco Newsletter, EcoSuperior