On March 14, I received an enthusiastic email from Susan V. Collins, Executive Director of the US-based Container Recycling Institute (CRI, see www.container-recycling.org and www.bottlebill.org) about my editorial from the February/March edition entitled “Nestle and the Watering Down of EPR.”

I’ve been a fan of CRI for some time – their website offers excellent data, analysis and perspectives. While CRI does several things, I think it’s fair to say a big part of its mandate is the promotion of deposit-refund systems for used beverage containers, along with reuse and reduction of packaging waste; these are promoted by CRI in tandem with curbside recycling for other materials such as newsprint and boxboard, instead of curbside recycling as a “total solution.”

My editorial was about how the soft-drink (and bottled water) industry is appropriating the term extended producer responsibility (EPR) and twisting it for its own purposes. The premise of the article was a very questionable article from an executive at Nestle Water, putting spin on a white paper that consultants from Natural Logic wrote for Coca-Cola.

Susan Collins mentioned in her email that CRI had just finished drafting a response to the Natural Logic white paper for Coke. This is now released and I’ve copy/pasted the short executive summary below.

You can download the whole 13-page document from a link on CRI’s homepage here:
www.container-recycling.org

CRI Comments on Natural Logic’s White Paper on EPR for Packaging
March 2011

Executive summary

Natural Logic recently produced a white paper for the Coca Cola Company that summarizes an industry policy agenda for the next generation of packaging waste management. In line with the principle of extended producer responsibility or “EPR,” the proposal incorporates some producer financing and management of packaging waste recovery.

CRI enthusiastically supports both the principle of EPR and the goal of reducing packaging waste, but finds significant problems with the Natural Logic paper in three main areas:

1. Natural Logic is ambiguous about the materials and waste sources targeted: in examining the impressive sounding “70% recovery of packaging” (and possibly printed paper) goal, we found that it could potentially result in the recovery of as little as 5% of municipal waste.

2. The Natural Logic proposal pits container deposit-refund systems against curbside material recovery systems, continuing the longstanding beverage industry approach to avoiding product-specific recovery laws. This contradicts the model of advanced material management systems in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere, however, where the principle of EPR is well established and packaging directives are in place. These systems rely on a blend of strategies to achieve high levels of packaging recovery, centrally including curbside systems and deposit-refund programs that complement one another, rather than
attempting to rely on a single mechanism.

3. Natural Logic fails to go beyond “diversion” to address the quality and fate of the recovered materials; the recycling priorities associated with different lifecycle greenhouse gas and emissions profiles of products and materials within the packaging class; product- or material-specific recovery goals within the packaging class; and the recovery of packaging litter. These are critical issues, especially within a sustainable materials management framework linked to greenhouse gas reduction imperatives. Beverage container litter in particular has lately been subject to greatly increased scrutiny due to rising concern about marine plastic pollution from land-based sources.

CRI believes that U.S. states that are exploring the shifting of financial and possibly physical responsibility for packaging waste to producers and consumers should study existing models, particularly in Canadian provinces that provide the most directly relevant examples. One of the common themes they will find, in contradiction to Natural Logic’s claims, is that container deposit-refund systems together with corrugated box recovery systems, both of which recover significant amounts of material from outside residential frameworks, have tended to serve as the backbone of a high-performing approach to comprehensively reducing the flow of packaging waste to landfills
and litter.

Posted by Guy Crittenden at 10:55 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This blog is not about politics, the environment or the media, it’s about a person.

In what now seems like another life, I raced and coached Alpine skiing in Canada for a number of years.

The work and time I spent with high performance athletes, and the dedication and commitment required to achieve excellence has stayed with me all my life. Sometimes there were tragedies.

In the Toronto Star this morning there is a story written by Randy Starkman about Scott Finley, a former ski racer. It is a follow-up piece to a weekend feature published on March 12th called; “The Skier, When Love Runs out of Time.”

In 1978 at the Canadian Alpine Championships in Lake Louise, Scott was racing for the National Capital Ski Division and, in the downhill that day, he went off the course near the finish line and hit a tree. I remember it to this day. I was there; I saw it happen.

Scott is from Napanee, Ontario and he suffered a severe brain injury that changed the course of his life and that of his family. His mother and father have looked after Scott since that day. Rosemary and Hugh are now 80 and 81 respectively and they are concerned that Scott will have no place to go after they are gone.

They have undertaken a tremendous project. Hugh and Rosemary are the driving forces behind the establishment of a 12-bed home in Napanee for brain injury patients like Scott. It is a $1.6 million dollar fund raising effort and the response has been great. The skiers in Canada who knew Scott have made a commitment to raise $800,000.

I am very pleased that Jeff Armstrong, formerly one of my racers on the Northern Ontario Ski Team, and now a successful businessman in the area has taken a lead in assisting the Findley’s. He has a simple message to everyone: “Let’s show the Findley’s that Scott is one of us and that we haven’t forgotten him.”

A Fund has been established called; Napanee Acquired Brain Injury and Rehab Home, Box 33, Napanee, Ontario, K7R 3L4. All donations are being held in trust and a charitable, non-profit status has been applied for. Tax receipts will be issued for all donations.

In my eight years coaching I saw some terrible accidents. A racer of mine, Rene Dallaire, went off course one afternoon, hit a tree and will be a paraplegic for life. I recall another US racer dying from a fall on the downhill at Whistler. Scott is a remarkable man and he has, with the help of his parents and friends, stayed with us so let’s make sure he can continue his quality of life and, as Jeff says, “is not forgotten.”

Thanks in advance for any donations to assist this worthy cause, not only for Scott, but others in the same position.

www.trashedpoliticalgarbage.com
TRASHED! How Political Garbage Made the United States Canada’s Largest Dump

Posted by Gordon McGuinty at 2:53 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Melissa Walsh Innes, Maine State Representative, wishes to share with colleagues working in the product stewardship/EPR field the new link (and title) to the blog she authors on the subject: http://theinneseprreport.blogspot.com/

She welcomes comments and suggestions of what can be added to bring more meaningful discussion to her blog. She looks forward to working again with many interested parties as the legislative season is off to a great start with many different stewardship initiatives across the US and in other countries as well.

Melissa Walsh Innes
Maine State Representative
Facebook: melissa walsh innes
Twitter: repmelissainnes

Posted by Guy Crittenden at 8:04 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In the past sixty days we have been watching history. The world has definitely shifted on its access, and it wasn’t just from the unimaginable tragedy that has resulted from Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, the results of which, we are seeing unfold every day.

First, we had Egypt. The country erupted in a move towards democracy that resulted in the removal of Muhammad Hosni Mubarak after more than 30 years of autocratic rule. This sparked demonstrations in numerous oil producing Middle East countries and that has led to political instability, followed by a run on the price of crude oil, driving it up over $100 per barrel.

In these neighbouring countries violence is growing. Yesterday, Saudi Arabia (with the tacit support of the United States) sent troops into Bahrain to quell the protestors. After an initial euphoric release of support for new democratic reforms, the dictators are fighting back. No one wants to give up power easily.

Then we have the civil war in Libya. Unlike some of the other dictators, Gaddafi and his four sons are not talking to the pro-democracy movement, they are killing them. And, as usual with global politics being what it is, the nations of the world are arguing about what action to take. I don’t think there will be any action. Within a month, Gaddafi will have used his superior military power and that revolution will be over.

So where will that leave us. For Canada, and particularly Alberta, (If we want to be totally crass) this upheaval in the Middle East, and its subsequent aftermath, no matter what form it takes, is a positive. The rhetoric over the environmental issues surrounding the extraction of oil from Alberta will be muted and the priority will become safe and sustainable oil for the United States. Investment will increase, the price of crude will stay up and the economy will gain ground. I’ll have more on this, from an Alberta perspective, later.

The images on Japan are beyond belief. The nuclear crisis is ongoing as I write this and, for someone who has been in the civil construction business all my life, the devastation and need to rebuild the country defies the imagination. Estimates are reaching ONE TRILLION DOLLARS over the next few years.

Looking at the massive devastation it seems that the magnitude of the waste management and cleanup challenge facing Japan may be the largest single effort ever faced in history. While I hate to say it, there will be business opportunities for the waste and construction industries like we have never seen before.

www.trashedpoliticalgarbage.com
TRASHED! How Political Garbage Made the United States Canada’s Largest Dump

Posted by Gordon McGuinty at 3:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I penned this piece for the February 2011 edition of Canadian Technician

Why regulated standards are needed for end-of-life vehicles

Approximately 1.5 passenger vehicles either reach the end of their useful lives or are damaged in accidents beyond repair (and subsequently “retired”) each year in Canada.

Even so, these end-of-life vehicles (ELV) have considerable economic value. In particular, the metal associated with vehicle construction ensures that most ELVs are eventually recycled as scrap metal. While there are no comprehensive sources of data related to the percentage of automobiles in Canada that are recovered and processed, all indications are that more than 90% of ELVs are processed to various degrees.

While the base metal recycling rate for automobiles is relatively high, not all automobiles are processed properly before being recycled for the metal content. Vehicles are generally compressed and shredded before they are shipped to bulk metal recyclers – often without the substances of concern being removed beforehand.

This practice is prevalent because for certain types of ELV processors, it’s more profitable to avoid the additional cost of removing harmful substances. In these cases fluids are often absorbed into vehicle shredder residue while other toxic substances – including mercury, lead and ozone-depleting gasses – are released into the environment.

A number of automotive recyclers that are primarily in the ELV processing sector focus on vehicle dismantling and “de-pollution” services. Many of these ELV processors are members of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC). ARC members provide ELV management to the federal government’s Retire Your Ride vehicle scrappage incentive program, which requires adherence to the National Code of Practice for Automotive Recyclers participating in the National Vehicle Scrappage Program.

The National Code is implemented in Ontario as the Certified Auto Recycler (O-CAR) program. In Ontario, every vehicle recycled by a member of the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA is the provincial affiliate of ARC) goes through a methodical process to maximize reclamation of environmentally-sensitive materials in order to minimize the environmental impact. Batteries – as well as substances of concern such as mercury switches, motor oils, windshield washer fluid, coolants, brake fluids, gasoline, and refrigerants – are all removed and properly managed prior to forwarding or processing the remaining vehicular hulk for metal recycling.

While recycling ELV materials such as aluminum and steel contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions and pollution (in comparison to making such metals from virgin materials), reuse of vehicle parts generates significant additional environmental benefits through reduced pollution and material requirements associated with the manufacture of new parts.

Reusing parts also has economic benefits in terms of providing vehicle owners with a cost-effective source of replacement parts. Reuse of parts also providers the aftermarket repair and custom sector with a similar source of parts while lowering insurance claim costs as body shops and repair shops are able to access refurbished parts recovered from ELV vehicles.

Recognizing that Retire Your Ride is set to expire in March, OARA has been working with the Ontario government to transform O-CAR from a voluntary processing standard to a regulated environmental standard. If implemented, the standard will be administered by an oversight body that will ensure ELV processors operate consistently to that standard. Concurrently, OARA is collaborating with environmental groups and a number of leading auto manufacturers that have recognized the need to ensure ELVs are properly processed at the end of their operating lives.

With about three of every four cars in Canada not being managed to any environmental standard whatsoever, the opportunity to go green and grow the ELV processing and refurbished auto-parts sector of the Canadian automotive industry is enormous.

The goals of regulating ELV processing are ambitious but readily achievable: maximize reuse and recycling, minimize waste and pollution, drive growth and investment in the ELV processing sector, do not increase costs to purchasers of new vehicles while providing lower cost replacement parts to insurers, vehicle owners and customers of the Canadian automotive aftermarket repair industry.

Guest Column - Usman Valiante is a principal of Corporate Policy Group which specializes in business and government policies and programs for the environment.

Posted by Usman at 3:55 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Along with my colleagues at the magazine and some of our other environmental information products, I will be in Montreal on Wednesday, March 23 to chair a day of workshops on environmental protection and waste management issues at the Americana (http://americana.org/Home). I invite readers to attend and say hello at the luncheon or duringor after the workshop.

I'm also alerting readers about a networking event and workshops being hosted on the Monday of that week in Montreal by our friends at ECO Canada. I've copy/pasted the information below and encourage you to register:

RSVP NOW: Project Management Workshop and Networking Luncheon in Montreal

Event Website (www.eco.ca/montreal)

Event Registration Page (http://www.eco.ca/ECONetworkingLuncheon2010/)

Who: Environmental Professionals seeking professional development and networking opportunities

What: Project Management Workshop and Networking Luncheon

Cost: Workshop (includes lunch): $110 (includes applicable taxes)
Networking Luncheon Only: $35 (includes applicable taxes)

Professionals holding a valid EP, EPt, EP(CEA), EP(EMSA), EP(GHG)

Workshop (includes luncheon): $75 per person (includes applicable taxes)

Networking Luncheon Only: Free
Where: Montreal, QC - Concordia Downtown Campus - 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West
When: March 21, 2011

Morning Workshop: 8:30am – 11:30am

Investigate project management topics from an environmental perspective. Participants will explore the fundamentals of project management and learn strategies to apply to contaminated site work and other environmental projects. Facilitated by Greg Philliban - CPM, PMP, CIF - professional project management instructor and consultant.

Networking Luncheon: 11:30am – 2:00pm

Learn from a panel of experienced environmental professionals as they discuss topics related to Contaminated Sites: Managing Project Risks. The luncheon provides environmental professionals a forum to network and to learn from industry experts. The focus at this year's luncheon is Contaminated Sites: Managing Project Risks. The panel will discuss: regulatory changes and policies affecting contaminated site work in QC; tips for assessing project risks and implementing risk management strategies; and lessons learned on contaminated site projects. After a short keynote address and panel discussion, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Speakers Include:

· Eric Denman - Eng., MBA, EP - Vice President, D&G Enviro-Group Inc

· Julien Gravière - B.Sc, DESS - Project Manager, Risk Assessment, Environmental Site Assessment, Remediation and Hydrogeology, SNC-Lavalin Environment

· Charles Kazaz - LLB - Partner, Fasken Martineau

For further information on the events please visit the event website or contact Megan Foreman at mforeman@eco.ca

FRENCH:

SITES CONTAMINÉS : ATELIER ET DÉJEUNER DE RÉSEAUTAGE

INSCRIVEZ-VOUS

21 mars 2011
Montréal, Québec
Campus centre-ville de l'Université Concordia

ATELIER DE GESTION DE PROJET : 8 h 30-11 h 30

Abordez le thème de la gestion de projet d'une perspective environnementale. Les participants:

examineront les principes de base de la gestion de projet
apprendront des stratégies à mettre en pratique pour l'évaluation environnementale de site et dans les travaux de restauration

DÉJEUNER DE RÉSEAUTAGE : 11 h 30-13 h 15 (réseautage jusqu'à 14 h)

Le déjeuner donne l’occasion aux spécialistes en environnement de réseauter et d’apprendre des spécialistes du secteur. Cette année, le thème portera sur les sites contaminés : gestion des risques associés aux projets. Les invités discuteront des modifications aux règlements et des politiques touchant le travail dans les sites contaminés au Québec, des astuces pour évaluer les risques des projets et de la mise en œuvre des stratégies de gestion du risque ainsi que des leçons tirées des projets de sites contaminés. Après une brève allocution thématique et une discussion en groupe, les participants auront l’occasion de poser des questions.

Biographies des conférenciers ici.

Pour obtenir plus de renseignements, consultez la page Web des événements.

INSCRIVEZ-VOUS EN LIGNE

Frais de participation pour les membres agréés possédant un agrément de SE, SEf, SE(VEA), SE(VPSGE), SE(GES) valide et un invité

Atelier (comprend le déjeuner) : 75 $ par personne (comprend les taxes applicables)
Déjeuner de réseautage seulement : Gratuit
Sections régionales de l'AGA : Gratuit

Frais de participation pour les non-membres

Atelier (comprend le déjeuner) : 110 $ (comprend les taxes applicables)
Déjeuner de réseautage seulement : 35 $ (comprend les taxes applicables)
Communiquez avec l’organisateur de l’événement

Jessica Reynen
Communications Coordinator

ECO Canada
Suite 200, 308 – 11th Avenue SE
Calgary, Alberta T2G 0Y2
Ph: (403) 476-1931
Fax: (403) 269-9544
Email: jreynen@eco.ca

Find environmental profession products, services, and information at www.eco.ca

Trouvez des produits, services et renseignements sur les professions en environnement à www.eco.ca

Gain formal recognition of your environmental expertise at www.cecab.org

Obtenez une reconnaissance formelle de vos compétences en environnement à www.cecab.org

Posted by Guy Crittenden at 2:23 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I have had the benefit of not one but two winter holidays this year. I am not used to taking winter holidays and could probably do without them. They are kind of like a conjugal visit with Mother Nature. It’s fun while it lasts but you know you will be returning to the snow and cold.

Our latest foray took us to South Beach in Miami and then on a cruise.

I took a copy of the “US Environmental Protection Agency report Municipal Solid Waste-in the United States-2009 Facts and Figures” with me for airplane reading. It is a comprehensive document and an insightful read.
http://www.epa.gov/waste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw2009rpt.pdf

In 2009 Americans generated about 2 kilograms of waste per day (or about 730 kilograms/year). This includes all residential waste and commercial waste but does not include industrial or C&D wastes. Overall there seems to be a small decrease in waste generation and this was attributed to the recent and ongoing economic slowdown.

By contrast in 1960 Americans generated about 1.2 kg/day of waste.

About 65% of the wastes are attributed to the residential sector with the remainder attributed to the commercial sector. In Canada where waste statistics include all IC&I wastes we attribute about 35% of waste generation to the residential sector and the balance to the IC&I. I suspect if industrial and C&D wastes were included in US totals that the residential portion would be much closer to 35%.

The American MSW waste diversion rate has been pretty steady since 2005 and is estimated to be about 34%. About 25% comes from recycling and about 8% from composting. Energy from waste (EFW) accounts for 12% of waste management. The balance of about 54% is sent to landfill.

By contrast in 1960 94% of wastes were landfilled.

On average recovery rate for recycling is about 0.5 kg/day or about 180 kg/year. For composting it is about 0.2 kg/day or about 70 kg/year.

Recycling rates were highest for paper, cardboard, yard waste and metals. Paper, cardboard and yard waste had estimated capture rates of about 60%. Metal had a relatively low estimated capture rate of about 35%.

Certainly there have been positive strides for recycling and composting in the US. As a tourist I saw a number of public space recycling opportunities. The airports all have recycling bins. Delta airlines recycled extensively on the airplane, including plastic cups. Even the cruise ship has recycling opportunities and an extensive video about environmental initiatives. Residents and businesses have access to many waste diversion programs.

Yet waste generation does not appear to be abating. The US could be considered as the progenitor of consumerism. It is the driving force of their economy but also drives waste generation.

We were on an absolute behemoth of a ship for our cruise. My wife and I were on the fourteenth floor (and there were more). While we had a great time celebrating my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary the place was like a big shopping mall. You can check out any time but you can never leave. Even the ports were like another wing of the shopping mall. Everything was geared to constant consumption.

While that is part of being on holiday and can be fun I think we become a bit immune to this constant consumption. It becomes normal. I am writing a piece for my next Organic Matters column and was reading up on some Thai landfills where people live and hide and are not above eating food that is tipped from incoming garbage trucks. This is quite a contrast. Somewhere there must be a happy medium.

The USEPA report talks about source reduction but it is clear, economic downturn blips notwithstanding, that progress is really nonexistent. It is only when consumption is viewed differently that this will change. This will take a drastic event where resources become scarce for one reason or another and there is a paradigm shift. A world war educated my parents about consumption. When you have nothing, something is everything. Even in the face of plenty this has informed their approach to resource consumption for their whole lives.

After the flight back from Miami the ride home from Detroit back to London was fraught with heavy snow, strong west winds, a determined driver and an equally nervous wife. We sought emergency shelter in a smelly Bates-like motel, near Ridgetown. This holiday was definitely over.

Posted by Paul at 4:44 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

It only takes one event.

In my book TRASHED I talk about the international political controversy that erupted when, as a result of the ridiculous and unfounded pressure from former NDP Councillor Jack Layton and his other left wing supporters, the City of Toronto failed to sign a contract that had been awarded to Rail Cycle North to ship garbage to the Adams Mine in Kirkland Lake. Instead, Toronto sent 100% of its waste to Michigan.

The ensuing battle included all levels of government in Ontario, Michigan and the United States Congress. This week we are seeing another event of international proportions that may be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back” however, this time it is in our national sport of hockey.

In a game between Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadians, 6’9” Zedeno Chara of Boston rubbed out Montreal forward Max Pacioretty along the boards. Unfortunately he hit the turnbuckle between the player’s benches which resulted in a concussion and a slight fracture to his neck.

Hits to the head and concussions have become a serious issue in all sports and this hit has created an international incident for the sport. It has been made worse because, while Chara was given a major penalty and a game misconduct, the NHL did not see fit to level any additional punishment or suspension. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, all bad for the NHL. (Pacioretty is out of the hospital; he’s resting at home and is not calling for any additional actions against Chara.)

But here comes the politics. Air Canada has threatened to withdraw sponsorship of the league and the Molson’s owners of the Canadians are screaming. Many players have finally started to speak out publicly and there are accusations of favouritism to the Bruins because the owners are tight with Commissioner Gary Bettman. Prime Minister Harper, a huge hockey fan, has jumped in and the Montreal police have opened an investigation.

I follow all sports fairly closely and have coached a bit of AAA hockey. My thoughts: First, I cannot stand Commissioner Gary Bettman. I find him a self-serving little guy who has stubbornly stuck to a business model to see hockey developed in places in the United States that are not sustainable, rather than in locations in Canada where fan support is superior. However, in this instance, dispute the huge outcry, he is supporting the decision of his staff, and he is right.

If you watched the hit (and understand the game) it is not evident to me that Chara had any intention of injuring Pacioretty. As can happen, and has happened many times in hockey, that location between the benches, where there is no glass, is a dangerous place. In my view it was an accident and Bettman is right to stand up for the decision that was made. As in the politics of garbage, the “environmentalists” cannot run the show.

However, in my view, this will be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back” regarding hits to the head and that is very positive. The discipline will get tougher, the rules will change and I think the players themselves will, and should, take greater responsibility for what happens on the ice regarding head shots.

www.trashedpoliticalgarbage.com
TRASHED! How Political Garbage Made the United States Canada’s Largest Dump

Posted by Gordon McGuinty at 2:07 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Yesterday was the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Day. It was celebrated in different ways and at various levels in countries around the world. Various print media had some interesting, and important, items we should all be aware of as our society moves into the 21st Century.

Things are not equal. Throughout the world many women struggle with political and religious repression. However, in Canada and the western world, women are the new power. Numerous statistics show that there are more and more women being accepted into, and excelling in, medicine, law and, to a less extent, engineering. In fact, women are now in the majority of acceptances to some universities in law and medicine. There has been a huge increase in women entrepreneurs starting their own businesses.

As Margaret Wente said yesterday in the Globe and Mail; “If you are a woman reading this newspaper today, you are singularly blessed. You belong to the freest, most educated, and most affluent group of women in all of human history.”

On both a professional and personal basis, I have been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by women of substance and intelligence. Elizabeth Fournier has played a senior role in my companies for over 25 years. Carol Ann Cole, a former VP with Bell Canada, has been a friend and advisor on anything important in my life for the same period. I have stated often over the past ten years that I would never own, or manage a company, without having women in senior decision making roles. In my experience, the input of women make the final decision better in every instance.

Months ago an article in the Globe stated that researchers in the United States found group intelligence is linked to social skills, taking turns and the proportion of women in the group. They found that groups that included more women interacted better and participated more equally.

Proof of the decision making power of women, and its growing impact on business, is found everywhere. Under the title; “A woman’s touch rewards shareholders”, the Globe provided a snap-shot of three major companies with women in senior management who had the ability to make real decisions and guide the growth of corporations. Dundee Corporation, Russel Metals and Reitmans Canada were just three examples where women hold over 60% of the senior management positions. The return on equity was excellent in all cases.

The future; I have two awesome granddaughters. Kaila is six and Courtney is three. Kaila talks to her father about his business day, she is reading his emails and the ‘social media’ world is where she will grow-up. Entrepreneurialism is also alive and well, her grandfather is working with her on her first small business selling lemonade this summer.

A thought…. Get women in key decision making roles as soon as possible. I don’t care what your business is. You, your company and your shareholders will be better for it.

www.trashedpoliticalgarbage.com
TRASHED! How Political Garbage Made the United States Canada’s Largest Dump

Posted by Gordon McGuinty at 3:20 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

It’s interesting sometimes to look at policies and environmental developments in Australia or New Zealand – countries on the far side of the planet that, with their colonial pasts, vast wilderness areas and abundant natural resources, are similar in many ways to Canada.

A “scandal” that recently made headlines in the Northern Territory concerned allegations that representatives of Coca-Cola pressured the government there to quash a proposed deposit-refund scheme for used beverage containers, or else the company would oppose the government and fund the opposition.

It’s difficult from this part of the world to understand the intricacies of Australia’s local politics, but overall the story does feel like looking into a distant mirror.

I offer readers a news story from the local media that captures the flavour of events, and (just before it) a short commentary from the blogosphere.

COCA COLA CAUGHT OUT IN ‘CASH FOR NO-RECYCLING’ SCANDAL

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 13:54

Environmentalists have called for an independent investigation into allegations that senior Coca Cola executives threatened to fund the opposition Country Liberal Party (CLP) 2012 election campaign if the NT Government proceeded with their ‘cash for containers’ legislation.

“If correct, this is a very serious scandal of ‘buying votes’ undermining democracy and brings the anti-CD campaign by Coca Cola and its allies Fosters and Lion Nathan into the gutter. Their front group for the NT campaign, ‘Responsible Recycling’ has used radio and newspaper ads, push polling and misleading information to try and defeat the NT ‘cash for containers’ deposit refund scheme”, said Jeff Angel, Convenor of the Boomerang Alliance.

“Buying a political party is beyond the pale. To get to the bottom of these allegations there must be an independent inquiry with the power to compel witnesses to give evidence under oath.”

“We are now urging Fosters and Lion Nathan to publicly distance themselves from Coke and the anti-CD campaign – their reputations can only continue to suffer. They should get on board in designing the most efficient container deposit system in the NT.”

HTTP://WWW.NTNEWS.COM.AU/ARTICLE/2011/02/23/214061_NTNEWS.HTML

CAN NEW LAWS OR ELSE, SAID SOFT DRINK GIANT: GOVT

DAVID WOOD February 23rd, 2011

THE Territory government has said a multi national soft drink company threatened to help the Opposition crush the container deposit legislation if Labor did not do it themselves.

Yesterday the Government confirmed that at a meeting last year between Coca Cola Amatil and a senior minister, the company "indicated that unless the NT Government abandoned cash for container legislation, they would be approaching the CLP to discuss how they might help them oppose the bill".

The NT News believes the company met with Deputy Chief Minister Delia Lawrie and its representatives told her they would help fund the CLP campaign for the August 2012 election because of their distaste for the scheme.

CCA spokeswoman Sally Loane said senior company executives and local managers met with both the government and the CLP late last year but "no CCA representative made any promise or offer to fund either the CLP or the ALP in the forthcoming election campaign".

In NT Parliament yesterday Opposition Manager of Government Business John Elferink ridiculed the situation, saying the government was spreading lies about Coca Cola funding their election campaign.

"The Henderson Government Minister making these outrageous and false allegations should have the courage to come forward and be identified," he said.

"This is just another disgraceful Labor Party smear campaign."

The container deposit legislation is being debated in Parliament and is expected to be voted on tomorrow .

The government has the numbers to pass it with the support of Independent Gerry Wood.

Chief Minister Paul Henderson said the CLP needed to state its position on the legislation having said it had supported such a scheme.

"But now the race is on to raise $1.5 million to take the CLP leadership," he said.

"Will they be more interested in Cash for Country Liberals than Cash for Containers?"

CLP environment spokesman, Peter Chandler, who visited New Zealand recently to look at an alternative scheme, said he he did not know of any meeting between Coca Cola and the CLP.

The CLP has not announced its position on the legislation, although it says it supports a container recycling scheme, just not this one.

"CLP is very supportive of a a CDS but the model proposed by government is a model we have not seen, it is like being asked to buy a new car without being able to lift the bonnet and check out the engine," Mr Chandler said.

Posted by Guy Crittenden at 9:33 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This is a follow-up to my blog earlier this week regarding an Editorial in the Calgary Herald newspaper.

I was invited to be the keynote speaker back in November at the Canadian Waste and Recycling Expo in Toronto. During my presentation I talked about how projects get blind-sided by the environmental movement and by many politicians who take the easy way out rather than support vital projects. I also commented that, in my view, the tide is beginning to turn and accommodations will be found between all parties, using the forestry industry as an example.

I think there has been a major step forward with regard to the oilsands. Patrick Moore has released a book entitled, Confessions of a Greenpeace Dropout (I have not read it). Mr. Moore is an environmentalist, has a PhD in ecology from the University of B.C. and was a founding member of Greenpeace. The editorial noted that Mr. Moore left Greenpeace when it put ideological beliefs over science. Now, isn’t that a revolutionary event.

Regarding the oilsands, in my September 2010 blog I commented on the new phrase “ethical oil” versus “dirty oil”. Mr. Moore commented on Alberta’s situation with the oilsands stating that; “the ethical oil argument is watertight. There is nobody with a better environmental or human rights record selling oil in the world."

Now, for all of you hand-wringers who think that Moore is selling out, it doesn’t sound like it to me because he believes there are “serious environmental issues involving oil”. He does suggest, however, that there should be a more truthful debate on the issues and, as the editorial points out, less dissemination of incorrect information by, as the paper puts it, the loud mouth activists.

How does this relate to the events we are seeing in the world over the past two weeks? Let’s be realistic; Moore says it for me; “I think it’s pretty cut and dried, we are the United States’ most important trading partner. They need the oil to run their economy and they’re going to need it for a long time to come. We are the friendly supplier of that oil."

My summary; politicians and ordinary residents are hearing the message, let’s keep our foot on the gas.

Everyone, including the oil industry, acknowledges the need for continuing environmental due diligence and improvements in how we manage development in the oil sands. But, in my view, Alberta, and indeed Canada, should be proud of what we can contribute to the world in energy, especially during these periods of political upheaval, when we will be playing an even more critical role in ensuring long-term energy stability.

We should not hide our heads in the sand, (if you will pardon the pun) we should demand constructive and progressive dialogue, not just suggest we should have it. And all parties to the environmental movement should recognize the importance of that approach and come to the table.

www.trashedpoliticalgarbage.com
TRASHED! How Political Garbage Made the United States Canada’s Largest Dump

Posted by Gordon McGuinty at 9:28 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Awesome two weeks in Tampa, sun and 75° to 80° Fahrenheit every day. Spent lots of time on the driving range and my golf game will be better this summer. However, reality check, back in Canmore yesterday and it was - 28° degrees Celsius and there’s a foot of snow in my driveway.

Talk about culture shock, in those two short weeks I was away, the Middle East has erupted politically and, in many ways, the world has shifted on its axis. The ongoing instability is going to be a real geopolitical factor for many years. As you listen to the political pun dents on CNN, and other networks, no one can predict where these ongoing events will lead.

However, one thing is a given. The instability in these countries, all of whom are tied in some way to the oil industry, will result in a re-examination of the ongoing and often irrational opposition to the development of the oil sands in Alberta.

I have talked about how, in my view, the environmental movement and various lobby groups have blind-sided the industry and the governments over the expansion of the oil sands. I have also said in many of my presentations that we need to fight back and be less politically correct. Well, it’s happening!!

It did my heart good to read the Editorial in the Calgary Herald yesterday. Under the head line, “Oil’s well”, the author stated that the Province must do more to counter smears against oilsands. The editorial took a strong position that the industry has neglected to tell the real story of Alberta’s oilsands and failed to confidently play the secure-energy card, specifically as it relates to opposition from the United States.

It is Important to note that both the industry and prominent environmentalists are now coming to the table. Jeff Immelt is the CEO of GE Corp and the Herald noted that in his address at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce luncheon he stated; “You guys have a collective problem that you have done a terrible job of marketing the technology, and that is on you”. He stated that, “The fact that you’ve allowed yourself to be painted into this corner is ridiculous”. Awesome, this guy is calling a spade a spade.

The second important item in the editorial is the position taken by environmentalist and Greenpeace founder, Patrick Moore. I will talk more on this later in the week as Mr. Moore’s defence of the oilsands is an important breakthrough for common sense.

Right now, I have to go and shovel that foot of snow in my driveway.

www.trashedpoliticalgarbage.com
TRASHED! How Political Garbage Made the United States Canada’s Largest Dump

Posted by Gordon McGuinty at 4:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)