Recycling Story

Last week, CBC interviewed a Kamloops woman (I don't remember her name), who had been collecting recyclables for the collection program.

So you might say???? Well she has been collecting them for two years!!!! Two years worth of recyclables in bags in the back yard!!!!!!

More than that, when she and her family were out for a walk, they would pick up recyclables on the road.

So whoever you are?!!!! Bravo!!!!!!!!!

By the way, I do hope the City will grant you some leniency in the first couple of pick ups as you deserve to be free of all that...

Walmart

Kudos to Walmart for working towards a more environmentally-friendly future!!!

Now I know many don't like Walmart for a variety of reasons but here are two that might make it just a bit more palatable....

They are carrying more environmentally products.
They are putting solar panels into many of their new buildings in the States.

Let's see if they can continue with this...

Food

Anyone who knows me knows that food is a very important part of my life. Recently CBC had a story on urban food and gardens (I didn't catch all of the story, but believe that this is the gist of it). Basically, cities should work to deliberately produce food...mainly what they can in a garden. The food would then be made available to a wider group of people in the city. This would cut down on the transportation of food; thus, the output of fossil fuels. Also, gardeners could grow food that is free of chemicals and hormones. Besides that, greenery is good for our minds, bodies and souls. Creating a neighbourhood garden or a rooftop garden is certainly one way to accomplish this given that there seems to be less and less urban space. Given the rising costs of just about everything, creating an urban garden this spring and summer actually makes a lot of sense.

Containers

I was recently in Paris, France and enjoyed myself immensely. One of my favourite things to do in a foreign country is to visit grocery stores. I went to several different Mono Prixs around the city. I was struck by how different they were from one another. Anyways I found a snack that was not just pure yum but also more environmentally friendly than what we have here in North America - chocolate pudding. This pudding is made with real chocolate, even the cheap brands are made with real chocolate...better than that, the pudding comes in glass jars. Here in North America, puddings come in plastic cups. Now I know these cups are recyclable, but here in Kamloops, there is no where (not yet anyways) to recycle plastic food containers that yogurt or pudding comes in. Glass jars make the puddings look richer, more luxurious and taste better. So to all the pudding/yogurt manufacturers in North America, learn from your European counterparts to make a better product that will be friendlier to our environment.

Finally!!!!

Congratulations Kamloops on finally getting a recycling program. March 17, 2008....It is about time!!!!!

Kudos

I was pleased to find out yesterday that both Purdy's and the Body Shop now have biodegradable plastic bags to put purchases in. While the ideal situation would be to eliminate plastics altogether, I would say that this is the next best solution. Kudos to both of these shops for working towards a better environment!!!!

Conundrum

I find it very interesting that Kamloops City Council has decided to ban backyard burning. I understand the reasoning behind this. What I don't understand is given their reasons, how can they let Weyerhauser continue with all its emissions? Scarier than the emissions we see, smell and breath are the emissions that we don't see, smell or breath.

Appalled

I was at Save On Foods recently on a Sunday evening and was quite disgusted. This store that collects and gives money for recyclable containers throws away their own flyers. They through away in the garbage their newspaper advertisements. So what if you can't get money for it, it is garbage? This is just sheer laziness not to mentioned just appalling in this day and age.

Old Magazines

Someone asked about where to take old magazines...so here are a couple of ideas other than putting them in mixed paper recycling bin at the City.

Take them to the hospital for the patients who are bed-ridden.
Take them to your local gym...I know that those sitting on the bikes like to read them.

Hope this helps.

Long Time No Write

I'm back and hope that here in 2008 I will be more diligent about writing. Hope everyone keeps reading.

Getting Help

I was into Nature's Fare today and the cashier asked me how I liked Amy's Organic Soups. Black bean and vegetable and chicken noodle are my favourites. I also like minestrone. These soups are $2.99. Now some of you might say well that's expensive for soup. Maybe so...but I used to eat out 4-8 times each week. Calculate that at probably an average of $15/meal. So $3.00 for a bowl of soup or a meal in my case is cheap. I've also lost 35lbs in the past seven months with a little help from Amy's Organic Soups. Now by no means is this all I am eating...but it sure has helped. Yes, these soups are more expensive than what you would find at big box stores, but the price I would pay for not making this change in my life is ultimately far higher.

Monday May 21, 2007

I was downtown by Value Village last night. I was appalled by the garbage strewn out on the street...This morning I went down the connector and right there on the side were a couple of garbage bags...broken open with stuff hanging out...Shame on whoever created such messes on our roads!!!!

Planting

Well, I have done a good thing this long weekend and got my balcony garden going. Last year was the first year I did this. I went a little crazy with over 20 planters. However, I was pretty successful with it and excited to give gardening another shot. Mind you, I haven't filled every planter yet...The one thing that I accumulated last year and again this year are those plastic containers that the plants come in. So here it is...take those containers back to your local greenhouse and hand them over. Last year, I took them back to the Smorgasbord and they were happy to take them. While you are doing something good for the air, your neighbourhood and your general well-being, don't forget to go that one step further and recycle the plastics all of those plants come in.

Happy Earth Day!!!

I hope that you are enjoying the day. The sun is out and the sky is blue. I hope that we are all working to keep our days like this and our earth alive and well. Recycle, walk, buy organic, reuse your bags (better yet get reusable bags), donate to local charities...Anything to make the earth and this world a better place to be.

Green Products

I know that we are well into spring. Spring means working on our gardens and lawns. Today I saw a very environmentally friendly lawnmower. One that doesn't have the emissions of traditional mowers. This mower doesn't require any pushing or heaving. So check this product out at friendlyrobotics.com.

Adopt a Road

I heard the advertisement for the Adopt-A-Road program. As I was driving through town, I was appalled by the conditon of the roads. There was garbage along most streets. So I'm glad to hear that this program exists. So Kamloops - get clean and go green!!!! Adopt a road!!!!

Green Canadian Cities

Kamloops need to look at other cities around Canada for ideas to help protect even repair the environment.

Sudbury 35 years ago was compared to the moonscape. Astronauts were sent there to get an idea of what the moon was actually like. The problem: the land is barren. After 30 years or so of planting trees, the land is still barren. They figure that it will be another few hundred years before the land is healthy again.

Halifax is changing how garbage is disposed. Residents are expected to separate all the garbage - recyclables, organics, etc. Each garbage bag that is picked up is opened and sorted through again for the missed apple core or cola can. This means less garbage is going to the landfill and believe it or not not as smelly. Apparently the landfill in Halifax is only 10km away from the city core.

Toronto is also getting into the act. Companies got into the one tonne challenge and built energy efficient buildings. Another company found a way to change gases back into usable energy. They've also found a way to do this without burdening the taxpayers.

So what is City Council doing to make Kamloops a more environmentally city? How are the bigger companies here and in the area helping out? Where is the pressure to make the City and companies like Weyerhauser or Highland Valley Copper to clean up? Is Kamloops environmentally falling behind even bigger cities?

(All information about these three cities came from Peter Mansbridge on the National - March 12, 2007)

The Green Challenge

I purchased the Canadian Living magazine over the weekend. I did it because I was out of town for work, I'm obsessed with cooking ideas and because this was a green issue. They suggest ways to make your home energy efficient, environmentally friendly cleaning tips, and eco-friendly products. This is a great issue for those of you who would like to treat the planet better. You can also go to the Canadian Living website for more information and ideas. Go Green Go!!!

Make up

With the exception of lipstick or lip gloss, I don't wear make up at all. I don't even wear lip gloss all that much. Even so, I've become obsessed with collecting the different colours that I find.

Recently, Nature's Fare has started to carry lip gloss by Alba - TerraGloss. For $6.99, you can have naturally shimmering lips. Check out their website at http://www.albabotanica.com/index.php?id=411.

This lip gloss is free of different chemicals including petroleum. The six different colours are naturally mineral based.

I really like the shimmer of these lip glosses. The colours are varied and beautiful. I do wonder what the difference is between the two colours - garnet and blaze.

Anyways I like these products. The price and the colours are comparable if not better than the price and colours of lip glosses sold at the Body Shop. So if you want to do something natural and beautiful for your lips, consider using TerraGloss by Alba.

Empty Buildings

Around town, there seem to be several empty building. One that is soon to be empty here in town is the United Furniture building. I'm okay with empty buildings as there isn't anything we can do about them.

What I can't understand is why new businesses coming to town feel it necessary to clear a piece of land and put up a new structure. Why are they not using existing buildings and adapting them? Why is the City allowing this to happen? Are there not incentives for these companies to renovate and use existing facilities?

Congrats to the sports store that took over the JYSK building!!!