Irish Look to Nova Scotia Recycling Model

The Irish are looking to Nova Scotia for a lesson in recycling.

Today's Irish Times carries an article headlined "Group looks to Nova Scotia for lesson on treating waste." It talks about the country's options in dealing with its growing landfill problem.

The article in the Irish national paper points to a research group that says incineration of materials should not be considered in Ireland. It recommends recycling and other measures like those used in Nova Scotia instead.

"A model for what Ireland could be like, says the group, can be found in Nova Scotia, where a five-year campaign to divert 50 per cent of waste from landfills and incineration has been successfully completed," writes the article's author, Chris Dooley.

It says supporters of incineration argue that Irish people won't welcome large-scale recycling and can't wait for recycling to take hold.

"The same argument, the group says, was made about Nova Scotia... The fact they're on the periphery is relevant because we're often told we're too far from centres of population for recycling to be economically possible," the article continues.

The article can be seen on the Irish Times Web site at http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2001/0109/bse2.htm or at the Department of Environment and Labour Web site at http://www.gov.ns.ca/enla/

Angus MacIsaac, Acting Minister of Environment and Labour, said the fact that the Irish are looking here for a solution to their trash problems is logical. Department staff have targeted that country for business development. A department business manager was in Ireland last fall and an Irish company visited here last month.

"Our municipalities have become recycling leaders. Our businesses are experienced in this area. Our success is being recognized and tapped into around the world," Mr. MacIsaac said.

Last month, the province's recycling achievement drew international attention, thanks to CNN Television's Internet coverage. The CNN Web site, which is seen by 20.6 million people every month, highlighted Nova Scotia's drive to became North America's leader in recycling and composting.

The province's success story, titled "Waste not, want not in Nova Scotia" is available at http://www.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/12/04/waste.not.enn/ and on the department's homepage at http://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.