Oxford County Waste Reduction Week

Published on October 16, 2018

In honor of Canada's Waste Reduction Week, Oxford County is inviting its residents to participate in a week of events and activities to support their goal of becoming a zero waste community by the year 2025. The events will run from October 15th to the 21st, and are focusing on waste reduction education.

The week begins with an open house at the new net-zero Waste Management & Education Centre on October 15th, with participants able: to tour the facility, to read and interact with education displays, and to receive information about the goal of a zero waste future, along with information about 100% renewable energy sources.

Residents of Oxford County will also have a chance to win one of four underground composters, or ‘green cones’ as they are known, which can be won by sharing their waste reduction success story on Twitter or Facebook; tagging @OxfordCounty and using the hashtag #WasteReductionWeek. Winners for this contest are to be determined through a random draw after the contest ends on midnight of Monday, October 22nd.

The green cone composters are available for purchase by residents at any local municipal office, as well as the Oxford County Administration Building in Woodstock. For $40, Oxford Residents can pick up a green cone, which are capable of using solar energy to digest up to 1 kilogram of food waste every 1-2 days, and can be used all year long.

Oxford County, Future Oxford, and other community partners are also collecting used mobile phones, so that they may be refurbished and adapted for use for the visually impaired by Phone it Forward, a program run by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Collection boxes for this program are: at municipal offices, at all branches of the Oxford County Library, and at local churches.

As sustainability is a top priority for us at BSG, we are happy to see Oxford County taking part in Waste Reduction Week, and are excited to see that they have initiatives for working towards a green future. For more information about events happening during Waste Reduction Week in Oxford County, www.wasteline.ca provides daily information about proper waste management, as well as illustrating just how beneficial these events are to the community and environment.

Schedule for Waste Reduction Week

Monday, October 15th

Open House for Oxford County Waste Management & Education Centre. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., residents can receive information regarding the waste management facility, and find out how solar power is used to offset energy usage by the Waste Management & Education Centre itself.

Tuesday, October 16th

Tuesday is dedicated to the proper disposal of Textiles. Not all clothes need to be put into a landfill - some can be donated. www.wasteline.ca/blog has more information regarding alternatives to throwing out used textiles.

Wednesday October 17th

Wednesday holds a celebration of waste reduction champions and innovators, by Oxford County’s local festival organizers: the Canterbury Festival, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Lions Club Fish Fry and more, all of which have taken zero-waste approaches to holding their respective events.

Thursday

Thursday is focusing on education about plastics and packaging. Their proper disposal, their total and projected effect on the environment, and how to avoid improper or contaminated recyclables will all be discussed, and will have information available.

Friday

Friday will involve asking participants to take the food waste pledge, and to help them be conscientious of creating unnecessary food waste.

Saturday & Sunday

The weekend holds a hazardous waste and & E-waste day, allowing the proper disposal of household waste that is too hazardous for regular garbage pickup. www.wasteline.ca/blog will have the location of where these items can be safely disposed.