Solid Waste Management
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Ribeirão Preto, SP launched an awareness campaign to reduce pollution from improper waste disposal
The city of Ribeirão Preto's Department of Environment launched an awareness campaign to reduce pollution caused by the irregular disposal of solid waste. The environmental education campaign focused on understanding the social and environmental consequences of unrestrained consumption, the generation of solid waste, and the lack of reuse and recycling. The city distributed informative posters with QR codes that direct residents to a website detailing waste sorting and collection schedules.
Ribeirão Preto, SP
Brazil
Toronto, ON is producing renewable natural gas by processing green bin organic waste at new facility
The City of Toronto partnered with Enbridge Gas to install a biogas upgrading facility at the Dufferin Solid Waste Management Services site. The biogas upgrading facility processes green bin organic waste into renewable natural gas which is then injected into the natural gas grid for use by the city. The low-carbon fuel blend will be used to power vehicles and heat city-owned facilities while reducing carbon emissions.
Toronto, ON
Canada
Middletown, CT launched a food diversion program to help local businesses compost organic waste
The City of Middletown partnered with Hartford-based Blue Earth Compost to launch the "Feed the Earth" food diversion program. The program will provide free composting bins to Main Street business owners to help turn restaurant organic food waste into nutrient-rich compost and renewable energy. Participating businesses simply transfer waste from the kitchen with a 5-gallon bucket and empty it into a 32-gallon barrel which Blue Earth Compost picks up twice a week.
Middletown, CT
United States
East Suffolk District Council, GB urges residents to stop contaminating recycling with nappies
East Suffolk District Council partnered with the Keep Britain Tidy environmental charity to launch a campaign designed to stop residents from attempting to recycle disposable nappies. The Suffolk Waste Partnership created the campaign in response to a recent national survey revealing over one million individuals in the UK regularly contaminate their recycling with nappies. The campaign's message was distributed through the partnership's website, social media, and newsletters.
East Suffolk District Council, GB
United Kingdom
Brasilia, DF is installing underground dumps to reduce pests, prevent odors, and increase storage
The City of Brasilia's Federal District Development Agency is installing underground dumps in the Northwest Housing Sector. The underground dumps reduce pests, prevent odors, and have a larger storage capacity (3,000 liters) compared to standard garbage deposits. The city is spending $4.7 million (BRL) to install the first 60 units near residential buildings in the neighborhood.
Brasilia, DF
Brazil
Whanganui District Council, NZ combats illegal dumping with harsh penalties and mobile reporting
Whanganui District Council's Waste Minimisation Advisory Group launched a campaign to crackdown on illegal rubbish dumping. The Council enacted significantly harsher penalties and quadrupled the illegal dumping infringement fee. Additionally, the Council encouraged residents to download the Snap Send Solve mobile app and report details of rubbish directly to the Customer Services team including photos and the GPS coordinates.
Whanganui District Council, NZ
New Zealand
Brockville, ON created "Community Treasure Day" to help residents shed unwanted items trash-free
The City of Brockville created the "Community Treasure Day" event as a fun way to help residents remove unwanted items from their home without generating waste. Twice a year the city holds a "Community Treasure Day" in which residents can leave any unwanted but still useful items on the curb for the entire day. Residents are encouraged to collect any items they want from their neighbors for free.
Brockville, ON
Canada
East Hants, NS hosts solid waste events to reduce hazardous waste and destroy confidential papers
The Municipality of East Hants hosts the Residential Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) mobile drop-off and Paper Shredding solid waste community events twice annually. The HHW event provides residents a safe and efficient method for disposing of leftover cleaners, solvents, and chemicals. The Paper Shredding event creates an opportunity for residents to securely destroy confidential documents.
East Hants, NS
Canada
Horowhenua District Council, NZ created "Love Your Loo" awareness campaign to reduce sewer blockages
Horowhenua District Council created the "Love Your Loo" awareness campaign to reduce sewer pump blockages. On average, the Council clears five blockages every week costing ratepayers approximately $30,000 every year. These blockages are often caused by residents flushing fat, medicine, and "flushable" hygiene products in the toilet. The campaign includes a promotional video and drain diagram reminding residents to only flush the "3 P's - Paper, Poo, and Pee".
Horowhenua District Council, NZ
New Zealand
Pitt Meadows, BC piloted an "Adult Toilet Training" public education campaign to stop wipe flushing
The City of Pitt Meadows piloted an "Adult Toilet Training" public education campaign to convince residents to stop flushing disposable wet wipes. The city surveyed residents and discovered most wipes were personal hygiene wipes flushed by women. The campaign displaying posters in public women's washrooms indicating that wipes must go in the garbage even if the product claims to be flushable. The campaign included a roving pink port-a-potty at community events to promote the washroom posters.
Pitt Meadows, BC
Canada
Charlotte, NC fights against sewer damage caused by flushable wipes with Pipes Hate Wipes campaign
The city's water department produced seven videos featuring actors portraying Pipe and Wipe. Each video took place in a public setting like the airport or a Charlotte Hornets game. The characters fight with each other, bringing to life how wipes are incompatible with sewer pipes. Charlotte designed social media, radio, and billboard campaigns to complement the online ads. Pipes Hate Wipes sought to reduce the 40% of sewer overflows caused by wipes and other debris.
Charlotte, NC
United States
Byron, NSW develops Australia's first bioenergy facility with dry anaerobic digestion
The proposed Byron Shire Bioenergy Facility uses oxygen-free digestion to turn organic materials into renewable biofuel. This process diverts yard waste, food waste, and wastewater sludge from landfills. Council officials anticipate 4,000,000 kilowatt-hours of energy produced per year to power the facility and neighboring sewage treatment plant. Byron will achieve a 20% emissions cut and a 70% decrease in grid use from facility operations.
Byron, NSW
Australia