CNN Spotlights Nova Scotia Recycling

Nova Scotia is in the world spotlight thanks to CNN Television's Internet coverage of our waste reduction success.

The CNN Web site, which is viewed by 20.6 million people every month, highlights Nova Scotia's move towards living green.

The province's success story--entitled Waste not, want not in Nova Scotia--is available on CNN's Web site at www.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/12/04/waste.not.enn and on the department's site at www.gov.ns.ca/enla .

In 1989 every province and territory in Canada agreed to reduce waste going to landfills by 50 per cent by the year 2000. Nova Scotia is the only one to reach the goal, helping to make us the North American leader in recycling and composting.

Nova Scotia's achievement is the result of an extensive Solid Waste-Resource Management Strategy, first released in November of 1995. Based on public input, the strategy called for numerous measures to support recycling and composting including an extensive list of landfill bans.

Barry Friesen, solid waste-resource manager for the Department of Environment and Labour, is quoted in the story. Mr. Friesen said he isn't surprised by the international attention. He said the exposure provides an opportunity for Nova Scotia companies to market their expertise, products and services worldwide.

"Now that we are seen as world leaders, we are getting visits, e- mails and phone calls from everywhere," he said. "We have hosted officials from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Russia already. Next week, people are coming in from Ireland."

Other highlights in the CNN story include the 160 million beverage containers Nova Scotians return annually, province-wide curbside recycling and extensive composting throughout the province.

In the story, Mr. Friesen also said that living green has led to job creation. Overall, more than 3,000 jobs in the waste-resource sector have been created. There are 10 times more jobs in recycling than in disposal. In Nova Scotia hundreds of jobs have been created in transporting, processing and marketing waste.

"We're very proud. We set the goal, worked toward it and we've succeeded. It's great when others notice it too," said Mr. Friesen.