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…

• A recent autopsy found 17 pounds of plastic inside the belly of a whale who was washed ashore in Thailand.
  • http://ijpr.org/post/thailand-17-pounds-plastic-kills-whale-highlighting-ocean-pollution#stream/0
• China used to be the world’s largest importer of recycling, but has now refused to accept 24 types of scrap recycling, and will only accept recycling loads with less than 0.5 % contamination.
  • https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/16/climate-change-china-bans-import-of-foreign-waste-to-stop-pollution.html
• Vietnam has announced they are temporarily banning the import of scrap plastics, eliminating another potential processing market for our plastics recycling
  • https://www.wastedive.com/news/vietnam-scrap-plastic-imports-temporary-ban/524281/
• Canadians are recycling “wrong,” contaminating loads with non-recyclable materials, and it is costing us millions!
  • http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/recycling-contamination-1.4606893

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!

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!
  • https://www.terracycle.ca/en-CA/brigades/cigarette-waste-brigade

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!

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.