MASS Environmental Service

5 Qs with Jesse Moring

by Leave a Comment

Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, people standing, tree, plant, child, outdoor and nature

The Moring Family

Our Administration Manager, Jesse Moring has a big role to fill here at MASS! Since joining our team in October 2017, he has become a crucial asset to what we do. In his position, Jesse is responsible for Accounts Receivable and Payable, Human Resources, and Information Technology – which means that he keeps very, very busy!

When Jesse goes home at the end of the day, the busyness definitely doesn’t stop!  Jesse, and his fantastic wife Laurel are parents to three adorable young boys, and are actively involved in their community.

In recognition of all that Jesse does, we wanted to take this opportunity and celebrate him and his hard work.  Keep reading for “5 Questions with Jesse Moring,” and CLICK HERE to learn more about him and the rest of our team!

 

Q1. What first sparked your interest in working for MASS Environmental Services Inc.?

I first applied for after a recommendation that the Brown’s were looking to fill a position with someone with my skill set and background. The person who recommended the position to me also told me how wonderful the family is, which was great to hear. I quickly became interested in learning more. After meeting George and Marnie (our President and Vice-President), I started to really see how it could be a great fit. The passion they both show for their work is contagious, and after that first meeting, I was able to develop a better grasp of what MASS offers, and who MASS is as a team, and family, I knew it would be a fantastic place to work.

Q2. What do you like to do outside of work?

Lately, most of my ‘outside-of-work’ hours have been devoted to renovating our house. When we aren’t busy renovating, my wife, Laurel and I enjoy relaxing together and playing board games. Of course, this is all in-between taking the kids to their baseball and jujitsu practices. Parenting definitely keeps us busy!

Q3. When you envision how Canada will evolve as we move into the future, what do you hope to see change (in terms of waste, recycling, and environmental initiatives) for our country?

When I look to the future of Waste Diversion in Canada, I believe more people will become aware of their own impact. Individually, we each have a role to play, and we should be trying our hardest to minimize our footprints. I know a lot of people tend to think their individual environmental impact is too small to make a difference, but this could not be further from the truth. Large changes are made up of many smaller ones coming together. As Canadians, I hope we can shift our perspective to see that that every little bit helps, no matter how small.

Q4. What have you learned or how have you changed since working for MASS?

The world of waste and recycling is a system that is vital to everyone, but not something that many of us actually spend time thinking about.

The Moring Family

Since I have started working for MASS I have learned, and am still learning how this system operates. This is a part of each of our daily lives, and something we each should make an effort to become more educated on, in order to do our part for sustainability.

Q5. What is it like working in a family business?

Having a young family of my own, it is interesting to also get to experience the dynamic of working in a family business. My experience with MASS has really brought home what a “team” should be. Family is a huge part of who I am, and working in an environment where everyone is on the ‘same team’ in the way that a family is, is a very special experience, and one that I am glad to be a part of!

 

 

Waste Less At Work

by Leave a Comment

As the waste and recycling industry continues to evolve and change, each of us has a responsibility to take control over our own individual environmental footprint. Our team at MASS has been heartened to see so much engagement from the global community, as people around the world make small changes in their daily lives to create less waste. Together, each of these little steps forward have the power to come together as a larger impact.

Beyond our daily lives at home, there is another – just as crucial – space in many of our lives that provides us with a great opportunity for environmental action. As indicated by the title of this blog, we are referring to our places of work.

Whatever your work environment may be, taking action to reduce the waste you generate and divert what’s left from landfill is a key step to true sustainability. Below, we have outlined our TOP 5 TIPS to reduce waste at work.  After you’ve finished reading, don’t forget to comment and let us know what actions you and your co-workers have taken to reduce your environmental impact!

Reduce Paper Consumption

In many offices, going completely paperless just isn’t possible. But what can definitely be implemented is a focus on reduction! There are a few key ways to go about this:

  • Change the setting on your office printers so that they automatically print everything double-sided (this will cut paper usage in half). Just ensure there is an option to change this setting in case one of your colleagues is putting together a project that requires single-sided printing!
  • Put ‘Paper Usage’ on the agenda for your next team meeting. Ask your team to consider whether they are hitting that ‘Print’ button out of habit, or if the documents they are sending to the printer truly need to be in hard-copy form.
  • Digitize your inter-office communication! Memos, document sharing, scheduling & more can all be done online! Move towards a digital system for your inter-office communication, and keep hard copy printed documents to the bare minimum.

Start an E-Waste Program

Set a meeting with your IT department to launch a sustainable plan to handle Electronic Waste! This is crucial step to minimizing your environmental footprint. Items to consider include:

  • Ink Cartridges & Toners – Most of these will be accepted back by their manufacturer or distributor for recycling. If your office is not already participating in a program like this, ask whoever orders the supplies to inquire about program availability!
  • Laptops, Computers, Printers, Cell Phones & More – When your office equipment needs replaced, your old equipment can often be recycled! Investigate local opportunities (our tip: check out not-for-profit groups) in your area. Many organizations are constantly looking for old computer equipment to refurbish, and they will take yours at no charge. Just be sure to have your hard-drive wiped clean (we encourage you to have a professional take care of this) before handing off any IT equipment for recycling.

Start an Office Compost Program

In the face of a changing waste industry, the value of recyclables is declining. As recycling programs become more limited, one way that we can still be sure to have Waste Diversion success is through a compost program. Many regions offer commercial organics pick-up, which is a great option for businesses who wish to collect their food-waste and have it collected by an outside supplier. This is a program that MASS manages for many of our locations across Canada. Another option, however is implementing a compost system right on-site. For small-to-medium sized offices like ours, a
Food Cycler is a great solution! We have one of these set up in the kitchen area of the MASS office! Our team members load their food waste into it throughout the day. Every evening when we leave the office, the lid goes on, and we cycle the unit. When we return the next morning, we have a nutrient-rich soil-amendment that we can use on our own gardens!

Gather Data: Participate in a Waste Audit

One of the most important parts of the MASS Methodology is gathering, analyzing, and applying solutions based off data and evidence.  This means that when we launch waste diversion programs, we love to conduct a Waste Audit first, thus giving us a detailed understanding of what the site is generating and sending to (or diverting from) landfill on a daily basis. A Waste Audit is your first step towards waste diversion success. We often say: “If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” and we truly believe this to be true! In Ontario, many businesses are actually regulated to complete Waste Audits on an annual basis by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. Learn more about how your workplace may benefit by participating in a Waste Audit by
contacting us today.

Reduce, Reduce, Reduce!

Look around your workplace, and take a visual inventory on what type of garbage you can see being generated. Are people drinking out of plastic water bottles? Or perhaps there are a few too many disposable coffee cups filling your waste bin. Gather your team together to discuss what you see, and what practices you could enact as a team to minimize the amount of garbage you are actually creating. At MASS, we have eliminated disposable coffee cups and water bottles from our office (we have a water cooler and coffee pot with water glasses and coffee mugs available at all times!), and consistently review what types of one-time use packaging is being brought into our office. Whenever we see a problem we work together to find a solution. While it may not all happen today, change is a work in progress; and we are proud of the direction our office is headed in!

 

At MASS, we always say: Change Begins With Just One Step! We believe that taking just one of these steps will help you and your co-workers to create a more sustainable office environment one day at a time. Comment below and let us know what actions you have taken to reduce waste at your workplace. We would love to hear from you! 

 

All Photos Used On This Blog Post Are From: https://unsplash.com/ 

Our Favourite Zero-Waste Products

by Leave a Comment

Our team at MASS Environmental Services Inc. is committed to making changes in our daily lives to reduce our negative impact on the environment. Day-in and day-out, we eat, sleep, and breathe Waste Diversion. Limiting the amount of material that we send to landfill through reduction, re-use, and recycling efforts is imperative to us. This truly is the backbone of everything we do. A part of this effort for us has been looking at what alternative products we could source as individuals to help us to create less garbage (especially in the face of the current Global Recycling Crisis). 

Below, we have linked some of our very favourite products that each of use in our own homes, as we each work diligently to achieve a Zero Waste Lifestyle.

 

The Food Cycler

 

What Is It?

The Food Cycler is a small unit (it looks sort of like a bread maker!) that can fit right on the counter in your very own kitchen. It comes with a removable pail that you can fill with food-scraps throughout the day. When the container is full, close the lid, and turn it on. In 3-5 hours, the unit will cycle and create a nutrient rich soil amendment that you can use as compost in your gardens right at home.

Why Do We Love It?

Many municipalities still do not offer a curbside program for organics collection. This gives anyone who does not have a program the ability to create compost right at home. We love it because there is absolutely no smell, it is super quick, and insanely convenient! When food waste goes to landfill it creates SIX TIMES it’s own weight in methane gas (which is one of the most harmful greenhouse gasses that can cause climate change). We can each reduce our own impact on climate change by diverting our food-waste from landfill, and treating it as the valuable resource it is!

Collapsible Coffee Cup

What Is It?

A BPA Free Food-Grade Silicone Coffee Cup that collapses into a small, portable version that you can carry with you everywhere. Use at coffee shops and on-the-go instead of disposable cups that will fill up our landfills and litter our environment.

Why Do We Love It?

Let’s face it: most of us probably already own more travel mugs than we know what to do with! But they are big and bulky, and all-too-easy to forget at home. We believe that in order for sustainability to be effective, it must be manageable. A small, portable cup like this fits the need of convenience. We can throw it in a bag and bring it with us wherever we go without a second thought! How awesome is that!?

Food Storage Containers

What Is It?

Reusable Food Storage Containers are another product that many of us already own. But there is no reason not to keep your shelves stocked if you are putting them to good use! These containers are a convenient way to store food in your home and on the go.

Why Do We Love It?

So often, when you get take-out or bring your leftovers home from a restaurant, the container they give it to you in is styrofoam (which has a very limited recycling market). By taking these with us when we go out for a meal, we always know we will be able to bring home our leftovers without filling our landfills and oceans with single-use plastics that must go to waste!

 

Stainless Steel Straw Set

What Is It?

A set of stainless steel straws including the bent style, the straight style, the wide style for smoothies, a cleaning brush, and a carrying case. This provides users with an alternative to the plastic straws that are often seen harming marine life, and filling our landfills.

Why Do We Love It?

We love this set in particular because of the variety that comes with it! Bent straws are preferable for many people for comfort, whereas others like the straight style (especially for beverages like cold brew coffee). The smoothie straw can also be used for bubble tea (which we are a huge fan of!) The cleaning brush is easy to use and make keeping hygiene a priority super easy. While we know not everyone is able to make the switch to reusable straws like this, those of us who are should definitely consider the option! Each of our choices has an impact on the earth. Making positive ones to mitigate our environmental footprint is always a good idea!

Beeswax Food Wrap

What Is It?

This is a reusable food wrap made out of beesways from Abeego. It comes in three different sizes to fit your varying needs. This product is an alternative to other plastic food-wraps (example: saran wrap) that you may be currently using in your kitchen that are non-recyclable.

Why Do We Love It?

You can get about a years worth of use out of this product (even more if you take good care of it! Then, when you are ready to replace it, it can actually be composted, which makes it especially awesome in our book!  Plastic food wrap is a product we found tricky to replace at first, but this makes it easy and convenient for everyone!

Mesh Produce Bags

What Is It?

These polyester mesh produce bags are intended to be used as an alternative to the plastic bags that are given out in the fruits & veggies section of the supermarket. They can be used both to transport / carry produce, and to store it at home, after purchase.

Why We Love It?

It’s interesting that while most of us made the swap to re-usable grocery totes years ago,  reusable produce bags are only just now having a surge in popularity! These are so convenient because of their small size, you can even put them in your coat pocket so as to avoid forgetting them when you go for groceries. We also love bringing them to the Farmer’s Market and using them to carry local produce as we shop around.

Collapsible Water Bottle

What Is It?

This is a BPA Free Food-Grade Silicone water bottle that conveniently collapses so that you can carry it with you everywhere you go! Stay hydrated on-the-go, without contributing to the plastic crisis we are currently facing as a global community.

Why Do We Love It?

Like so many of these products, we love this water bottle because of it’s convenience factor! As with the coffee cups, most of us own countess water bottles already, but they are big and bulky, and can be annoying to lug around. This collapsible version eliminates that problem when it becomes small and compact enough to be thrown into any purse or bag! This eliminates the need for use of plastic water bottles, which is a win for everyone!

 

There you have it! Those are some of our very favourite Zero Waste Products right now! Comment below and let us know what your current faves are … & let us know your favourite Zero Waste Shops to check out! Together, we can make a difference.

A Guest Post From Our Summer Student – Paul Turcotte

by Leave a Comment

Paul Turcotte is a 2018 graduate from Cobourg Collegiate Institute. He will be heading to the University of Guelph in the fall, and has joined our Waste Audit Team for the summer. Joining us as a summer student has given Paul an opportunity to gain insight into the world of waste and recycling. In this blog post, he shares how this job has changed and enhanced the role of waste diversion in his daily life.

Working for the Waste Audit team at MASS Environmental Services Inc. has been a great summer job so far. Being on the road with the team has got to be one of the best experiences I’ve had. This is my first time working in a close team environment, and it’s been very positive.

Doing Waste Audits means that I am on the road anywhere from 2 days a week, all the way to 5 days at a time. Spending a lot of time on the road doing audits means that in just 4 weeks working with MASS, I have already had lots of experience with learning what goes into which bin when it comes to recycling, compost and waste. In this role, the lingo that you pick up will stick with you quickly. Terms and concepts like ‘Bin Volume,’ ‘PETE recycling’ and ‘HPDE recycling’ (the audit team abbreviates this to just ‘H’) have become a part of my daily vocabulary. I’ve learned about the differences between Single-Stream-Recycling vs. separated recycling programs – for example: Cardboard Only recycling.

So, what have these things changed in my everyday life when it comes to waste? I’ve started paying more attention to the little things. Before I started here, I was a pretty good recycler and composter and I knew what materials went into which containers (most of the time). Now though, when I place recyclables into the recycling bin, I will check the bottom of the container to see what type of plastic it is. Another part of life that this job has made me more aware of is my environmental footprint. By this, I don’t only mean the garbage at home, but the garbage that I am using and producing on-the-go. For example, when I eat at a restaurant, I now think about things like “what food packaging am I creating in the waste stream when I order this meal?” I’ve also learned to take actions like asking for my drink to be served without a straw, because I know that a plastic straw will end up in the waste.

Seeing the behind the scenes of waste & recycling has opened my eyes to how much waste we, as humans, are actually producing. In just four weeks, I know that I have only seen a sliver of what is actually out there. All this knowledge and insight to waste is not only something I will learn and hold onto while at MASS, but afterwards as well. For my post-secondary education, I am planning to study business. One thing a lot of entrepreneurs probably don’t consider when starting a business, is garbage. But personally, I believe that as we continue on as a society, and our landfills fill up, it is going to become even more of a problem. I believe waste and recycling should be one of the first things that entrepreneurs consider and plan for, when starting a business. As the landfills fill up, I believe people should become more aware of what their environmental footprint is. Having a strong recycling plan is a good safeguard for when those problems occur down the road.

Overall, this experience is one that I think people of all ages should have at least once in their life. We are all on this earth, and we all play a part in protecting it. It would make sense for everyone to know the size of the mark they are leaving. But for now, I will keep doing my part to reduce as much as I can.

Family Business & A Family Wedding –  A Special Celebration For the MASS Team

by Leave a Comment

The Happy Couple – Nate & Alex Card

Just after 3:30 PM on Saturday, July 14th 2018, MASS President George Brown walked his daughter, Alex down the aisle to marry the love of her life, Nate Card. Alex, who is the Operations Manager here at MASS hugged her father, followed by her mother Marnie, the VP of MASS, as she joined her soon-to-be husband at the altar. At their sides stood Heather Varner as Maid of Honour, who happens to be the Special Projects Manager here at MASS, and Mac Brown as groomsman, who happens to be the Waste Audit and Business Development Manager here at MASS.

In the congregation sat family and friends, who were joined by the wonderful colleagues who make up the MASS Team, and members of our Advisory Board – all joining in the wedding festivities following the ceremony.

When it comes to life in a family business, family milestones like this are special celebrations.  This is why  a big part of why it is important to us that each member of our team is truly valued as a member of the “MASS Family.”

Just as we do with our own loved ones, MASS maintains a vested interest in the success of each of our employees, clients, and partners; and as our company continues to grow, these are the values that have set the foundation for our success as a business.

Nate and Alex with MASS President & Vice President – George and Marnie Brown  

If you visit the  Our Story page of our website, you will read:

Family Focus is the core value which underlies our work-ethic and commitment to making a difference every day. It is also is a driving force behind the Innovation and proactive solutions MASS provides to customers. There is no greater motivation to work towards a Legacy of a more economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable future than the thought of the many future generations to come.

This focus contributes to MASS’ ongoing commitment to Reliability and Accountability. MASS is proud to maintain true Vested Interest in the Success of all Our Clients, Partners, and Team Members. These values form the structural integrity of the company.

These are the values that the entire team at MASS aspires to implement in our daily life at the company, and they are also a part of what it means to us to keep ‘family’ at the forefront.

Alex and Nate Joined By Family

When memorable moments like a family wedding happen, our team revels in the joy of celebration. This is a part of what makes the company culture here at MASS so unique and special, and also something we work hard to maintain year after year, as we continue to grow.

In sharing this blog post today, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate this company culture that makes MASS a great place to work. We are grateful to each member of our team for being a part of the “MASS Family,” and thank each of them for their commitment to making a small difference every day.

Congratulations to the happy couple, Alex and Nate! We know that you will have an eternity of happiness, love, and laughter. With your commitment to one another – and protecting our planet – we are confident that you will do great things everywhere you go!

Celebrating Canada Day at MASS Environmental Services Inc.

by Leave a Comment

Happy Canada Day!

At MASS, this is a particularly special holiday because it is one that reminds us how fortunate we are to live in a country that has an environment as diverse and incredible as our people. We are proud to be a Canadian-owned-and-operated company, and we enjoy the great privilege to serve our clients from coast-to-coast. As we have traveled throughout this great nation to work with our clients to reduce their environmental footprints, we have been continually reminded that the magnificent landscape that makes up Canada’s ecosystem is  truly remarkable – and worthy of protection. Below, we’ve compiled a list of three of our favourite natural wonders that make our country uniquely Canadian.

The Canadian Badlands

 

The Canadian Badlands

Through sandstone and dust, the Canadian badlands tell the stories of centuries past, reminding us what a small role we each individually play in the narrative of eternity. Exploring the Canadian Badlands means embracing western culture, respecting wildlife, becoming one with nature, and of course ALL THINGS DINOSAURS! There is no better place for fossil fans to go than Alberta’s own Dinosaur Provincial Park, to take in the history of the monstrous giants who once walked our earth.

 

Singing Sand in Prince Edward Island

“Singing Sand” is a very particular type of sand that produces a whistling or roaring noise. There are various scientific theories on what causes this, all involving humidity levels, wind, and geography. Whatever the scientific reasoning, the truth is, it is pretty magical to hear the remarkable noise. This type of sand can actually be found right here in Canada, in Basinhead, PEI. With all the amazing reasons to visit the island, this may not be at the top of your list, but it is a natural wonder that is definitely worth checking out!

Hopewell Rock, New Brunswick

Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick

Hopewell Rocks are visited by travelers from far and wide who come to see the historic rock foundations created by the Bay of Fundy. Home to the highest tides in the world, this is a part of the country that holds a special part in the hearts of MASS, with two of our team members being New Brunswick natives. While they may now live in Ontario, it is not uncommon for us to hear stories about the amazing things to do and see in the “Picture Province,” and Hopewell Rocks is always one of them. An incredible natural attraction, Hopewell Rocks is certainly a staple of the Canadian landscape.

 

There are so many more incredible places to see and visit. From Banff in Alberta, to Algonquin in Ontario, to the Northern Lights in the Territories, there truly is something incredibly special about Canada. We encourage each of you to take some time this Canada Day weekend to enjoy the natural wonders that our country has to offer as we all express gratitude that we are so very lucky to call this country home!

Simplified Sustainable Steps

by Leave a Comment

Photo – Unsplash

As both Canadians and Global Citizens, we are currently facing a crisis when it comes to waste and recycling. Our oceans are full of plastics. Our landfills are overflowing. Our recycling is contaminated, and we are limited on processing opportunities! 

Recently, news headlines have been focused on this crisis, and it’s impossible to miss…

These are just a few of the key stories our industry is dealing with right now, as we face a turning point in how we, as Canadians, handle our recycling. As we become more and more responsible for our own waste, we must also make the choice to be accountable for our actions. Our MASS team is always working to make better decisions on behalf of the environment, and we have found a few key sustainable steps that we can each take in our personal lives in order to generate less waste and ensure the impact we will inevitably have is a positive one!

Food Waste

Photo – Unplash

If you are lucky enough to have a green bin program in your community, we implore you to utilize it! If you do not, however, there are alternative options. At MASS, we process our food scraps utilizing a Food Cycler. This unit is small (about the size of a breadmaker!) and fits on your kitchen counter. We collect our food scraps throughout the day, and when the container is full, we close the lid, and press the button. 3-5 hours later, we have a nutrient rich soil amendment that we use in our gardens! There is no odour, and it is a quick and easy way to ensure we do not send our food-scraps to landfill where they will break down in an unhealthy way, creating methane gas and contributing to climate change.

Grocery Bags

We know this one is a classic, and most people have already taken this step forward. Even still, we cannot emphasize it enough! Plastic grocery bags are causing a major issue for our environment as they fill up our landfills (with an extremely long lifespan), and they often find their way to our oceans where they harm and kill marine life. Ensuring you always have a collection of reusable grocery bags in the trunk of your car will mean you never arrive at the grocery store and realize you’ve forgotten them at home. If we all do this together, it adds up to make a huge difference to protect our wildlife and environment.

Food Wrap

We completely understand how convenient plastic food wrap is. It can be hard to give up. But when you see the images of sea birds suffocated by plastic wrap enveloping their heads, this is a huge wake-up call. There are better alternatives, including a beeswax based reusable wrap. This is available for purchase through plenty of online retailers and many local stores as well. We promise if you source it out, you won’t regret making the swap!

Produce Bags

Another swap many of our team members has made is purchasing reusable mesh produce bags for their fruits and veggies. Now, when we go to the grocery store, we all use these reusable bags instead of the plastic ones provided in the produce department. An additional bonus to these is that they tend to keep our fruits and veggies fresher for longer, which means less food-waste, while eliminating the excess plastic from our environment.

Coffee Cups

Photo – Unsplash

Listen – We get it! It can be hard to remember to bring your travel mug with you everywhere you go. But our landfills are full of the non-recyclable wax-coated coffee cups, lids, and stir sticks that are sold at most retail coffee chains. If you’re like us, you probably drink a lot of coffee, and throwing a travel mug (they even sell collapsible options to make it even more convenient) in your bag will allow you to have a huge impact in the long run. Just remember when going through a drive-thru to mention that you will be using your own mug, so that way they wait until you get to the window to pour!

Take-Out Containers

Most take-out containers at restaurants are made out of a type of plastic that holds little-to-no value as a recycling commodity. We have to remember that with recycling, the material is only truly ‘recyclable’ if there is actually a market for it … In other words, there needs to be a customer out there who is willing to buy the material to recycle and reuse it. Materials like styrofoam and black plastic are tough to process, making them essentially worthless in the recycling market. We encourage you to pick-up some re-usable containers and take them with you when you head out to eat. Not only will this eliminate the non-recyclable materials from our waste stream, but it will also help you to eliminate food-waste by not sending your leftovers to landfill.

Plastic Straws

As a team, we’ve become committed to asking for ‘no straw’ when we go out to eat. Straws go to landfill, and often end up in our oceans or other places where they do not belong. They are so dangerous to marine life and other animals, and it is a product that most of truly don’t ‘need.’ This is such an easy step that can make the world of a difference. We encourage you to do the same!

At MASS, we always say that change begins with just one step. None of us are going to do everything right all at once. It’s about taking one small step at a time to create a larger difference. If you could choose even one of the above sustainable steps to take today, it will make a difference. We all have an impact on Mother Earth. It is our choice if that’s a positive or a negative one.

What are you doing to eliminate excess plastics and other waste from your daily life? Comment below and let us know!

 

Keeping Planet Earth In Mind This Summer

by Leave a Comment

Summer in Canada – Photo From Unsplash

Ahhh … Summer! Across Canada, we are eagerly anticipating those long-awaited sunny days. Whether spent at the beach, hiking through a Provincial Park, camping in the woods, or simply enjoying the afternoon in your own backyard – it’s not hard to see why summer is the favourite season of so many!

As this wonderful time of year quickly approaches, it is important to think about how we can ensure our ‘Summer Fun’ does not hurt our Planet Earth. Below, we’ve assembled a few of our favourite tips to help ensure your summer activities are environmentally friendly this year, as we all do our part to protect our environment for the next generation!

 Beach Days

Beach Days – Photo From Unsplash

Nothing says ‘summer’ like spending the day laying out on the sand, soaking up the rays and listening to the waves crash in. But before you get out your swimsuits and towels, consider how you can ensure your beach habits may have an impact on Mother Earth – and make the choice to have a positive one!

  • No trash! Avoid bringing anything to the beach that could become garbage (think: pre-packaged foods like granola bars), and instead opt for snacks in reusable containers. However, if you do bring trash, take it home with you where you can dispose of it safely. Another common trash item seen at the beach is broken plastic beach toys. If this happens to you, please collect all the little pieces and bring them home. These tiny pieces pollute and litter our shores, harming marine life. Every small action counts!
  • Be conscious of your choices at the beach canteen. Getting a cold drink? Utilize a re-usable cup. Coffee? Bring a thermos! If nothing else, at least say ‘No” to the straw. If you can eliminate this one tiny piece of plastic from your daily life, the beach (and the rest of our planet) will thank you!
  • Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories … We know it’s cliché, but it’s VERY true! Leave seashells and other beach items behind (unless you’re collecting litter, in which case – KEEP AT IT!). The beach is it’s own ecosystem, and we should all do our best to avoid disturbing it.
  • Avoid OXYBENZONE. Never heard of it? You’re not alone. But it’s a common ingredient in most sunscreens, and it can cause severe damage to coral and other marine life when you go swimming in the open waters. Look for a sunscreen without this ingredient if you plan to be splashing in the waves this summer.
  • Butt out! If you are a smoker, please think twice before leaving your cigarette butts behind. Visit the TerraCycle website at the link below to learn about their cigarette waste recycling program, and how you can become a part of it!

Blazing Bonfires

Blazing Bonfires – Photo From Unsplash

Who doesn’t love a bonfire night?! There is something entirely magical about watching the flames dance in your backyard firepit, as you cozy up next to your loved ones and munch on delicious s’mores. But, it is important to know that not all bonfires are equal – & an environmentally friendly one is always best! What can you do to keep things eco-conscious?

  • Keep your fire small and reasonable – Bigger is NOT always better.
  • Only burn dry and untreated wood (think: logs, branches, twigs, etc.). This will minimize the chemical levels released by your blaze.
  • Use kindling to start the fire, instead of choosing firelighters or fuels.
  • Check your firepit before you burn! Backyard critters like to make themselves at home in your firepit and they could become unsuspecting victims of your summer fun.
  • Invite your neighbours! If you have friends or family who enjoy a backyard bonfire as much as you do, invite them to join you. This way, you can have just one fire as a large group, rather than having multiple backyard fires burning in everyone’s individual yards. Condense the amount of bonfires on any given night by coming together … After all, the more the merrier!

Happy Hiking!

Hit The Trails – Photo From Unsplash

Hitting the trails this summer? Us too! We can’t wait to explore the wilderness of our Provincial and National Parks, while getting lots of healthy exercise. But before we head out, there’s a few key factors we should all keep in mind, in order to ensure we do no harm!

  • Always bring a trash bag and protective gloves. You’ll be amazed (in a not-so-good way) about how much litter you can find along hiking trails. If you bring a trash bag with you when you head out on your adventure, you’ll have a way to collect this garbage and help to clean up the environment we all enjoy.
  • Picnic properly! If you’re planning to eat along the way, ensure your food is packaged in reusable containers only (no trash!) and that you’ve brought along plenty of water to drink (in a good-sized reusable water jug / bottle).
  • Stay on the trail. Just like the beach, the hiking trails we all enjoy are also their own ecosystem. By sticking to the trail, we can minimize the disruption of the environmental activity. It can be tempting, but the future of our environment is 100% worth it!
  • Never feed the wildlife. This one should be a given, but when the cute little face of a squirrel comes around the corner, it can be easy to forget. But remember, feeding wildlife causes them to become vulnerable and dependent on humans, so you are not doing them any favours.
  • Use organic and EPA approved bug spray. We know the mosquitoes can be horrific in the woods, but DEET repellent is incredibly dangerous for our environment. Look for a safer and more environmentally friendly brand – there are plenty that work just as well!

Kicking Summer Boredom …

After you’ve spent more days than you can count at the beach, having bonfires, or hiking in every park nearby, you may find yourself getting a little bored. It’s important that when this happens, you continue to maintain the same commitment to environmental consciousness. There are so many ways to pass the time during the summer heat that are not harmful to our environment.

  • Say no to water balloons! The plastic is harmful to our environment and it’s not exactly a good use of the valuable resource of water. Instead, consider creating a backyard or neighbourhood scavenger hunt with your family and explore the natural world around us, without creating excess garbage. Or, if you really need water to cool down in the hot summer sun, consider a more limited alternative  … Try out a water-table where you reuse the water more than once. Or, you can fill up water-guns with rain water collected in pails in your own backyard!
  • Visit the Farmers’ Market! Summer time means plenty of delicious goodies at the local Farmers’ Market. Be sure to bring along reusable bags and containers to limit the amount of plastic waste you create. This is a fun, healthy, and environmentally conscious way to support the farmers in your community.
  • Start a backyard garden. This will allow you to connect with nature and learn a lot about plant life! Bonus points if you use your food scraps from your kitchen to create compost.

Summer time is one of the best times of year to get outside and connect with nature. As the weather gets warmer, we are all reminded of why we work so hard to protect our environment. We encourage all of you to keep this in mind over the next few months as we soak up the sun and enjoy every moment!

A Mother’s Day Reflection – Celebrating Mother Earth

by Leave a Comment

Motherhood Around The World
Photo By @tanjaheffner – Unsplash

This weekend, families across Canada (and beyond!) will be taking the time to celebrate their matriarchs in honour of Mother’s Day. As a family owned and operated business, we take family celebrations like this to heart, and like to take some time and consider how celebrating the women who raised us aligns with our mission to leave behind a healthy and thriving earth for the next generation.

The very word: ‘motherhood’ brings to mind an idea of Unconditional Love, Devoted Care, and Endless Encouragement. The MASS team has spent some time thinking about how these sentiments are shared by our relationship to the Mother we all have in common – Mother Earth.

Unconditional Love

No matter how we treat our planet, it continues to turn. The ocean tides continue to come in and out, and the sun still rises every morning. We – as a human population – are far from perfect ‘children,’ but our Mother Earth loves us unconditionally regardless of what we may do.

Devoted Care

Motherhood in The Himalayas
Photo By @j_o_u_r_n_e_y – Unplash

Mother Earth provides for us consistently. She provides us with fresh air to breathe, and cleans it by the trees she grows! She provides us with water to drink, and sunshine to soak up the crucial Vitamin D our bodies need to survive. She provides us with fertile soil to grow our food, and endless natural resources to provide for ourselves on a daily basis. Since the beginning of time, our Mother Earth has looked out for us in the devoted caring way that a Mother should.

Endless Encouragement

In times of trouble, our supporters will often say things like “the sun will come up tomorrow,” or “the world will keep on turning.” Our Mother Earth has proven them right, time and time again. Life isn’t always easy, nor is it meant to be. But the never-ending commitment of our Mother Earth to ‘keep on keeping on’ is all the encouragement we need to continue doing the same. So many of us look to our parents for support during hard times. Mother Earth continues to be there for us in that perfect and wonderful way!

Motherhood in Italy
Photo From @simonray – Unplash

Returning the Favour …

For most families, this Sunday will be spent with a turning of the tables, where children will return these sentiments to their mother, ensuring

that she knows her oft-unnoticed love, care, and encouragement, is far from unrequited. We’d like to inspire each of you to think about how you can ‘flip the script’ this Mother’s Day with our planet as well.

Ask Yourself – How can you show Mother Earth that same sense of Unconditional Love, Devoted Care, and Endless Encouragement that she shows us?

Perhaps you could show Mother Earth your love by changing a habit that is currently hurting her. This could be switching out to re-usable bags instead of plastic ones, or turning off the lights when you leave the room. Yes, our Mother Earth loves us unconditionally; but this does not mean we should walk all over her! These small changes can make a world of a difference!

Motherhood in Sierra Leone
Photo By @anniespratt – Unplash 

Perhaps you could show Mother Earth your care by returning the favour she has provided to us. In the way that she’s given us fertile soil to grow our food, maybe you could start your own vegetable garden in your backyard! This would eliminate the plastic packaging that is wasted when we purchase produce from the grocery store. On top of that, the time spent in the garden would give you the chance to truly connect with nature, and don’t most mothers say that quality time is the best gift of all!?

Perhaps you could look at the encouragement of Mother Earth as an opportunity to reflect on how you encourage those around you. Do you talk to your neighbours about recycling? Have you motivated your family to conserve electricity and water? Think about how you can extend that encouragement to those in your inner circle and beyond. Change begins with just one step. Take yours, and be the example!

MASS Environmental Services Inc. wishes all of our readers a wonderful weekend with their loved ones. 

Compost 101 – It’s Not Rocket Science!

by Leave a Comment

The Rocket In-Vessel Composting System

Crazy for Compost

Our company founders George and Marnie Brown have been in business together since 2001. But beyond that, they’ve been married to one another for over 30 years. This means that when you combine their years of experience as both business partners and a married couple, you get an endless number of great stories – some of which have become “MASS Classics” – in the form of friendly tales and anecdotes that get told around the office on a regular basis.

One of the most popular stories that our team loves to hear revolves around George’s long-enduring love of compost. Yes …. You read that correctly. His love of compost.

Marnie often tells us stories about how George’s journey towards finding the right compost solution involved a LOT of experimentation. For years, George endeavored to find a system that we could provide to our clients which would allow them to create nutrient-rich compost on their own grounds. He envisioned providing our clients with the opportunity to develop their own closed-loop food waste system right on-site. Thus, he battled to find a way to find a compost system that would eliminate the issues of pests, vermin, and overwhelming odours.

Fortunately, Marnie is happy to report that along the way, George discovered a solution that creates nutrient-rich compost without the pests, vermin, and other unpleasantries that you might expect. That solution came in the form of the Rocket In-Vessel Composting System, a piece of equipment out of the UK, for which MASS is now the exclusive Canadian distributor.

And while George has been known to say “I’d rather smell compost than methane gas,” we have to say that the Rocket is a system that even those of us with the most sensitive noses can happily handle.

Giving Back to the Earth

Operations Manager, Alex Brown with a Rocket located at an Ontario Independent School

If you’ve had your finger on the pulse of the waste industry in Canada over the past couple of years, you’ve probably heard a lot about food-waste. Food-Waste regulations have been passed at both the regional and provincials level across our country, in places like Nova Scotia, Calgary, Metro Vancouver,  Victoria, BC, and more! Here in Ontario, we are awaiting the exciting implementation of Bill 151 as we gear up for a food-waste ban within the Institutional, Commercial, Industrial (ICI) Sector.  What this means is that businesses, restaurants, health care facilities, educational institutions, and more should be prepared with a solution in place to divert their food-waste from landfill. Whether this be through a commercial organics program or an on-site closed loop system, it is encouraging to know that participating in such an initiative truly is an investment in the future.

Composting enriches our soil, retains moisture, and keeps plants healthy. It reduces the need for chemical fertilizers which are related to pollution, and encourages the production of healthy bacteria and fungi. Most notably, compost reduces the methane emissions from landfills which allows you to minimize your carbon footprint. With all this being said, MASS encourages businesses across the country to consider a compost solution, as an opportunity to reduce your environmental footprint, future-proof your operations, and become a truly ahead-of-the-curve business.

At MASS, we are seeing a number of clients eagerly pursue the opportunity to implement an on-site closed-loop organics processing system. This entails an organics processing system, in the form of a Rocket Composter. Through this leading-edge equipment, businesses are able to create their own personal circular economy within their daily operations, within which they become responsible for all food generated and wasted at their location. Then, they are able to utilize the compost on-site, and give back to the earth.

Waste Audit Manager, Mac Brown, shows how easy the Rocket is to operate and maintain

Rocket Science

By controlling temperature, aeration, and moisture, the Rocket In-Vessel Composting System creates nutrient-rich compost out of your food-waste within a short 14-day period. Because the Rocket is a totally enclosed system, access to pests is prevented, and the high heat process destroys pathogens.

The compost created by the Rocket is crumbly and soil-like, containing all the trace elements need for healthy plant root generation.

Currently, Rocket Composters are in operation in a number of settings including: Independent Schools, Universities and Colleges, Health Care Facilities, Multi-Unit Residential Dwellings, Office Towers / Buildings, and more. MASS works closely with our clients in all sectors across Canada to find a Rocket Composter to suit their unique needs.

George Brown with a Rocket Installation in Metro Vancouver

Explore More

Looking to learn more? CLICK HERE to learn about the different Rocket models and send an email to: service@massenv.com for our guidance on determining which unit may be right for your location.

At MASS, we believe that each of us has the individual responsibility to give back to the earth. Composting is a truly effective way to do your part to mitigate your environmental footprint.

 

Services

Hazardous & Biomedical Waste
Non-Hazardous Waste Consulting
Used Cooking Oil Collection
Grease Trap Service
Confidential Shredding
Waste Auditing
Waste Diversion
Contracts

Equipment & Products

MACC Compostable Cloth
Waste Station
Rocket Composters

About Us

Our Story
Our Team
What We Do
FAQ
Get Started
Careers
Contact Us

Education & Assessment

User Log In
User Dashboard
logo

Connect With MASS