There’s no getting around the fact that we need to be using plastics in our world, although there have been positive shifts with consumer product manufacturing and wooden disposal cutlery is a good example of that. We still need to find a fix for the problem of disposable beverage lids, and there are plenty more examples of how single-use disposable plastics continue to be a big problem and that doesn’t even start to touch on the issue of consumer good packaging either. Plastics don’t biodegrade, and everyone knows that. But the real issue is that they do break down into smaller and smaller pieces, and that’s what has us dealing with the problem with microplastics nowadays.
Thunder Bay is about as far away in Ontario as possible from us here at Load n’ Lift, and as we’ve said many times it’s dumpster rentals in Trenton and Colborne that we know best. But there are some more scientifically-inclined folks in Ontario’s westernmost bigger city that are doing really well with proposing solutions to the problem of microplastics and it’s quite possible that other cities and Provinces in Canada that have the same problem with waste management will take note and follow suit.
This is an issue that fishing enthusiasts will be even more inclined to take interest in, and that’s because unfortunately a lot of these microplastics are ending up IN fish. There was also a recent study that indicated that microplastics are also being found in small amounts in human bodies too, and the fact that we can’t stop microplastics from entering us via food and drink makes it all the more pressing for use to deal with this waste disposal issue that is a problem all over the world
You can call use for a rubbish removal service and waste disposal in Campbellford or anywhere else in this area, and we can usually deliver a roll-off dumpster or mini bin to any property or job site in this part of Ontario the same day someone requests one. But if it’s being super smart and insightful regarding the matter of reducing the amount of microplastics in the environment then we will turn the focus over to the folks at EcoSuperior who are doing a wonderful job of keeping Lake Superior a little cleaner than it would be otherwise.
Let’s provide a quick overview of what they’re doing with this month’s blog entry.
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EcoSuperior is receiving $45,000 from the Provincial Government for a prevention-focused project that will reduce the amount of plastic pollution going into local waterways and Lake Superior. The project is connected to the Ontario Community Environment Fund with expertise and insight into how best to tackle the impacts of pollution in their communities. The innovative microplastics capture work will help protect precious water resources for future generations.
What they are doing is installing something called a LittaTrap. It is a cutting-edge catch basin filter, and they will go into storm drains across the city. These devices capture small fragments of microplastics and prevent them from entering water ecosystems and harming aquatic life. Along with fish it is also true that birds are especially at risk from ingesting microplastics. Fatbirds especially. These traps are being placed near city parks, waterfront areas and parking lots, as these tend to be plastic pollution hotspots.
EcoSuperior’s Co-Executive Director explains that their aim is to build a healthy future for people and the planet. This infusion from the Province is increasing their ability to continue to reduce litter in our waterways and educate our community on the importance of waste reduction. Through the project we will capture litter debris and microplastics before they reach our waterways, and this promised to make a considerable difference in preserving the health of Lake Superior.
EcoSuperior will also be providing a detailed report to the City of Thunder Bay to help better guide their civic plans for plastic waste, including trash collection and cleanup, better waste management infrastructure, increased garbage collection in key areas, and improved signage. That’s something we can relate to with dumpster rentals for Ameliasburg and Cobourg and we also like to remind customers that we always dispose of collected waste in the proper manner based on Ontario Provincial guidelines.
The aim for EcoSuperior is also to extend the impact of the collected data by connecting with the International Trash Trapping Network to contribute to the global fight against plastic pollution. Funding for the project is being provided through the 2023 Ontario Community Environment Fund, using environmental penalties paid by polluters to support locally-driven activities that protect and restore areas impacted by pollution. Nearly $1.5 million is forecasted to be invested in these projects this year, and with activities like shoreline cleanups, habitat restoration and tree planting. The EcoSuperior project is one of the first such projects to receive funds in 2024.
The issue is certainly a pressing one. Over 70,000 pounds of plastic debris ends up in Lake Superior each year, and it impacts water quality in a very negative way. Plastic litter and microplastics that enter waterways through storm drains typically come from careless littering and tire rubber from our vehicles, among other examples. But the biggest problem is discarded cigarette butts from bozos who are still smoking them despite the 1990s ending more than 25 years ago.
Since 2010, the Ontario Community Environment Fund has committed nearly $2.4 million to 97 projects. These initiatives have involved over 11,000 volunteer hours and led to 390,000 trees being planted, over 50 kilometres of shoreline being restored, 1,000 bags of garbage being collected. We are enthusiastic supporters of any type of smart waste management initiative and we enjoy talking about them in our blog here, and so we say job well done to the folks at EcoSuperior.
Get it right for your property of job site by calling Load & Lift for Colborne and Trenton are dumpster rentals that can have a mini disposal bin delivered right to the location and then picked up once it is filled with whatever waste you have that needs to go. We like prospective customers to know that we are certified by the Ontario Ministry of Environment. All bin doors open to ground level for easy loading and the mini-bin system is superior for challenging locations where larger trucks might have difficulty moving. Plus ask about or seniors discount, and we also have one for CFB Trenton personnel.
Last but not least, here are customer reviews for Load n’ Lift that we are always happy to receive and will attest to the high level of customer service we provide with our disposal bin rentals. Have a great day!
