Minister's Speech

Remarks prepared for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

Waste Reduction Week Launch
Rose Avenue Public School

Toronto, Ontario
October 19, 2009

(Check against delivery)

Hello, everyone!  It’s great to be here for the launch of Waste Reduction Week.

And congratulations on being part of the eco-schools program.  Just listening to your answers, I can tell you really know your stuff when it comes to protecting our environment.

I bring greetings from our Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Waste Reduction Week is special because it helps everyone focus on the environment and the importance of the 3Rs.

When we reduce, reuse, and recycle, we’re taking nature’s example. 

In nature, there’s no such thing as waste.  Everything is always reused and recycled.

For example, at this time of year, leaves are falling off the trees and feeding the soil.

Nature doesn’t waste anything.  And neither should we.
 
Now, you’ve all grown up with Blue Boxes, and I’m sure you’re very good at using them.

You’re all doing your part to reduce waste every day, at home, and at school, right? 

That’s great!

Let’s use this special week to do even more!

Let’s think of new ways to reduce waste.  And let’s get the message out that we should be making waste a thing of the past.

“Reduce” is the most important of the 3Rs. 

We need to keep reducing the amount of waste we produce.

In Ontario, we’re still producing way too much – each year, each person creates almost one tonne of waste.  That’s the weight of a car!

And do you know how many people live in Ontario?

More than 13 million!  Enough people to fill the Sky Dome 260 times!

Too much of this waste is going directly to landfills, and we have to change this. 

It’s so important that we cut down on packaging. 

Pretty much everything you buy comes in some sort of package.

And if you put any part of a package that can be recycled in a garbage bag, where does that bag wind up?

In a landfill, yes.

I’m sure you have lots of great ideas about how we can reduce packaging so that less waste ends up in landfills.

Waste Reduction Week is a perfect time to share these ideas. 

All year round, we need to be reusing what we have, reducing the amount of garbage we produce, and recycling as much as we can. 

All of this helps to reduce the greenhouses gases that go into our atmosphere and lead to climate change.

Do you think you can show other kids and adults why the 3Rs are so important, and why everyone should get involved in reducing waste?

That’s great, because today, more than ever, we need everyone doing their part to protect the environment.

I know that smart and eco-friendly students like you are going to make a difference in building a healthy, green future.

Whether you’re recycling, or composting, or conserving water when you brush your teeth, all your positive actions really add up.

It’s up to all of us to spread the word about the importance of waste reduction. 

Let everyone know what we have in Ontario is too good to waste!

I want to thank Jo-Anne and the team at the Recycling Council of Ontario for their excellent work towards eliminating waste, and for putting together another great Waste Reduction Week.

Going green is good for us!

Let’s all work together to make a difference.  

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