Earth Matters by Jacqueline Milner – Convincing Businesses Like Cornwall Toyota to recycle and the Fall Harvest – Cornwall Ontario – September 27, 2010

Cornwall ON – Some time ago I was visiting our local Toyota Dealership and surveyed the area to deposit a piece of scrap paper in a recycle box.  I didn’t see any on site so I inquired with the customer service desk where one was.  To my dismay, there were none available in the office.

I asked to speak to the Manager to find out why.  Mr. Hickman informed me that the city did not do recycling pick-ups for businesses and he didn’t think it was appropriate to ask an employee to take the recycling home.

I mentioned to Mr. Hickman that as a member of the Cornwall & District Environment Committee I would look into this and get back to him.  Now it took me some time to get back in touch with Mr. Hickman regarding business recycling in Cornwall.  During my last visit to the Dealership in the Summer I asked to speak with Mr. Hickman once again.  I was thrilled to let him know that the City of Cornwall was happy to pick up regular recyclables (items that would be picked up with your household recycling).

Since this last visit to this Dealership, they have installed recycle bins for employees and clients to use for their plastic, tin cans and paper.  Thank you Mr. Hickman.  This small gesture will keep a lot of extra garbage out of our land fills.

A couple of months ago it was mentioned in Earth Matters that we (the world) needed big business to get on board for or to initiate certain projects so that we could introduce changes which could benefit species, habitats, water quality and such in a short period of time.

The Supermarket chain Metro will join other food retailers in temporarily withdrawing the sale of fish species which are considered endangered or threatened.  This new policy is being introduced gradually and is expected to be fully implemented by June of 2011.

This will include species such as Shark, Skate, Atlantic Cod, Blue fin Tuna, Chilean Sea Bass and Orange Roughy.  These species will only be reintroduced for sale when scientific and government reports indicate the stocks populations have rebounded.

Earth Matters applauds all the businesses that refuse to sell items or products which include elements of a threatened or endangered species.

We have beautiful, fresh local pumpkins, potatoes, carrots, and onions available now at your favourite local producer.  This is a great time to stock up on your root vegetables (pumpkin is not a root vegetable) for the upcoming winter months.

A cool dark place is required to keep these items for any length of time.  Your local grower is a great source of information on how to properly store these root vegetables for any length of time.

Mark this date on your calendar please: October 2, 2010.  The Ontario Electronic Stewardship invites the general public to bring their electronic waste to The Civic Complex, 100 Water St., Cornwall, ON East Parking lot, Saturday, Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This would include your desktop and portable computers, computer peripherals, monitors, printers, fax machines, televisions, phones, cameras and audiovisual equipment that you no longer use or want.  These items will be diverted from our land fill sites to various recycling and reuse partners.

Visit http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/ for more information about OES.  Please share this information with your friends, neighbours and associates.

Your commentary is always encouraged and appreciated.  You may do so here or to earthmatters@cornwallfreenews.com

3 Comments

  1. Well done Jacequiline!!
    I asked why there was no recycling for some local businesses during a short stint with a local company. It was a joke when asking the city why they did not provdie the service. I wonder how many other businesses do not recycle gue to the same city practices

  2. Smee, The City of Cornwall is happy to collect business recyclables, that is to say the same items you would normally find in household recycle bins such as plastic containers, tin cans and paper. They are the people who deserve the thanks and forethought to offer such a service. The Township of South Glengarry also provides the same service to businesses. This would not include hazardous waste or recyclables unique to a business. For businesses in other Townships, contact your Township Office for services available to you.

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