I, like many others who are interested in websites like this one, try to do my best to minimise the waste I produce. When shopping, I avoid over-packaged products, and choose recyclable packaging if I can't find an unpackaged option. Years ago I made my own shopping bags, and am happy to see that North American shoppers are now encouraged to refuse plastic bags. Plastics are not collected for recycling in my community, but I save them anyway - I'll take them with me next time I make it to a larger centre. My two-year-old son knows all about recycling - he helps me sort it and take it to the depot. I do my best, but there is always more. What one step further will I take this Waste Reduction Week? Perhaps I will drive less, or turn the water off while I shampoo my hair in the shower. Maybe I'll finally bake my own crackers. Whatever it is, I will make an effort to keep it a part of my normal routine beyond the designated week.

We are beginning to plan information sessions and activites for WRW 2009. Last year we helped sponsor a handout/poster re possible places in our community where people could take reusable or recyclable items - quite successful - and hope to continue in this direction. To that end we will be downloading resources from this web site and will be back in touch with you.

In hopes of reducing not only personal consumption, but those in my community I have started my own company to urge people to live a greener life. To me one of the most important areas of this revolves around waste reduction by rethinking the items you already have in your house hold. Our peosonal goal this summer is to be non-consumers, by purchasing as little as we possibley can we will in turn produce much less waste from manufacturing, packing, shipping, and eventually throwing away we hope to put a large dent in this cycle. We have started our own compost bin and recycle as much as we can. Our small yard has become a beginning gardener's vegtable patch, and we encourage our children to take small portions and have seconds rather than be wasteful, we have even gone so far as to sell our extra car. I guess it comes down to the simple idea that the less we use the less we throw out. Or if I can use the mission statement from my business, is to inspire a simpler life for all of us, one family at a time, one day at a time, one planet for all time.

I am co-ordinating between the residents, housing and a local youth church group to reduce what goes in the garbage bins and beautify the apartment building. The youth group will be learning about composting, compost tea and building a rotating composter for use at this seniors apartment building. We will also be utilizing leafs both in the composter and as a top dressing. The youth group will be planting, weeding, watering and designing gardens for the residents who wish to participate but are unable to do these tasks themselves.