S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
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Other eco-efforts are underway, too. Some local businesses like Schnitzels, Sheep’s Head Bistro and Love Love Food have joined the #byebyestraws movement and are investigating other ways to keep their waste down. “My customers have asked for better choices,” said Love Love owner Tony Lacroix who now offers paper takeout boxes for hot meals and who spent a month sourcing paper straws that didn’t easily disintegrate. Then, there’s Transition Cornwall+. The local grassroots group continues its march on the trail towards sustainability. Along with establishing action groups dedicated to helping people face challenges like the rising cost of energy and food, they launched the Waste Reduction Action Group in November 2017. “Our goal is to help people transition into lower waste options in their everyday lives,” says Carilyne Hébert, who spearheaded the group and who herself embraces the low-impact lifestyle. She carries a kit in her purse (cloth hankie, cutlery and a metal straw), uses low-waste bathroom essentials (metal razor and shampoo bar) and also makes a point of avoiding plastic and unsustainable packaging when she shops. For its part, Cornwall’s Waste Management department introduced initiatives to divert materials from the landfill. Events include a Paint Reuse Centre, the Give A Shirt Program (donating used clothes on collection day) and Trash to Treasure Day (placing household items at the curb for others to collect and use) and the popular Waste Reduction Week. Supervisor for the department, Danielle Watson, says, “We’re always trying to identify programs that can be implemented for everyone to participate.”
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As the news continues to remind us of our impact on our environment and our health, is it time for us all to practice an expanded definition of waste reduction—refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, and rot? Absolutely! —Lauren McGill
T H E
K I T
Lessening your environmental impact doesn’t have to mean expensive electric cars and solar panels on our roofs. Put together a few to-go items and reduce the amount of waste you create! —Carilyne Hébert HANDKERCHIEF HANKIES are incredibly handy. Use them for a runny nose, to grab a cookie, or to use as a lunch napkin. Find beautiful vintage handkerchiefs for only $1 or $2 at McHaffies Flea Market in Morrisburg. mchaffiefleamarket.ca STAINLESS STEEL STRAW Straws suck. In Canada, we can fill 5,500 school buses yearly with these discarded, non-recyclable items. Pick up a reusable one at Life’s Little Pleasures in Cornwall for $7.99. @lifeslittlepleasures BENTO BOX You don’t need to give up your favourite take-out food to keep your waste to a minimum. Just Make sure you have your LunchBots box from Kid’s Korner handy and ask nicely to have it served in your own container. Only $21.99. @CornwallToys.77 TOTE BAG Tote bags can be used for more than hauling cauliflower and eggs. Grab this cute and sizeable Crush Lane
tote for $24 and avoid a plastic bag at the thrift store, pharmacy, craft store and anywhere else you might shop. crushlane.com REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE A million plastic bottles are purchased every sixty seconds worldwide. A reusable water bottle will save you money and lessen the burden of plastic. Pick one up at Mrs. B’s Gifts & Home Décor for $26.95 to $32.95 mrsbsgifts.getpayd.com CUTLERY SET Next time you are at a family BBQ, take out your cutlery set from Laura’s Flowers and Fine Gifts. It could spark a great discussion! Yours for $20.99. lauras.ca TRAVEL MUG Many of us can’t get our day started without a stop at the coffee shop. Arrive prepared with your fave mug from Campbell Creative. Find yours at the The Maker Shop for $25. @CampbellCreativeService
