REAPS REPORT

REAPS News Web Pick Book of the Month Recycle Toy Drive REAPS Educational Programs Up Coming Events Renew / Become Member

2

Local News

Nordic Winter Festival Pineview Snow Frolics Downtown Winter Carnival Christmas Tree Recycling Seedy Saturday Evenings of Films

3

Around BC

BC Fight Ocean Acidification Big Changes Start at Home Keep Coffee Cups from Landfill

4

Around Canada

Textile Recycling Levi’s Recycling Northwestern BC Landfill Work Together

5

Around the World

Coca-Cola Short on Recycling Recycling’s Role - on Climate How2Recycle Saving Apple Pie 12 Eye Opening Videos

6

Make 2017 a Greener One 7

Back Page

Dumpy’s Tip of the Month Recycle Craft Corner Membership Application

8

Hotline 250-561-7327 www.reaps.org Email newsletter@reaps.org

Recycl ing & Environmental Ac tion & Planning Society

COMING EVENTS

JANUARY

1 Happy New Year

2 Ness Lake Camp polar bear dip

8 Christmas Tree Recycling

15 Nordic Winter Festival

28 Pineview Snow Frolics

31 - Feb2 BC Natural Resource Forum

FEBRUARY

3 - 11 Cold Snap Winter Music Festival

11 - 18 Francofun Winter Festival

17 The Downtown Winter Carnival

25 Seedy Saturday

MARCH

8 - 16 Travelling World Community

Film Festival

25 REAPS AGM

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

JANUARY 2017

REAPS AGM: short year in review, governance, refreshments and Guest Speaker: Pamela Wright Owner of Confluence Tiny Homes, who builds tiny homes under 400 square feet either on foundation or on wheels right in Prince George.

Pamela will lead a discussion on constructing strong, warm and light as the key to Tiny buildings. She will share her experiences with tiny building and some of the trade-offs,

opportunities and challenges that you might face if you decide to build your own or buy tiny.

Currently Pamela has 2 tiny homes on wheels in construction (20' River-bend and a 14' Creekside).

Pamela currently lives part-time in a tiny home on foundation and will transition to full time tiny living in a few years.

PAGE 2 REAPS REPORT HOTLINE 250 -561 -7327

REAPS NEWS Web Pick of the Month Book of the Month

http://www.globalstewards.org/ The goal of Global Stewards, created in 1998, is to provide green eco tips for creating a healthy planet. This site is run by Lea Dutton and supported with inspirations from concerned citizens around the globe.

A big thank you to the volunteers who assisted with re-

ceiving, sorting, boxing, labeling and packing:

V. Stewart V.L. Bobbie E. Anderlini Trovg P. Commins D. Bobbie H.B. Wang H. Whiting M. Whiting Carla Ott Thank you to all who donated. We collected 147 boxes of quality used toys that were distributed to 11 agen-cies for distribution to their clients during the holiday season.

20th Recycle Toy Drive

REAPS offers many programs for community groups, businesses, schools and residents. From Going Green to starting your own composter and using natural pest control methods. We at REAPS would be happy to dis-cuss the endless possibilities of sharing our knowledge with you.

Teachers check out our many school programs offered FREE to your class on our website.

REAPS Educational Programs

REAPS Up Coming Events Calendar

We participate, host or facilitate many activities throughout the year. Currently the following are on our calendar.

Feb 25 Participate in Seedy Saturday

March 4 - 5 Active Living Market PCM

March 8 - 16 Participate in TWCFF

March 25 REAPS AGM

April 22 Earth Day Celebrations

April 30 City Wide Spring Clean Up

May 1 Compost Demo Garden Opens

May 6 Junk in the Trunk

May 27 REAPS Annual Plant Sale

June 1 - 16 Chinook Salmon Release

July 7 - 8 BMO KidzArtz Dayz

July 9 - 15 REAPS Go For Green Week

The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea Wulf

ISBN: -10: 038535066X

The acclaimed author of Founding Garden-ers reveals the forgotten life of Alexander von Humboldt, the visionary German naturalist whose ideas changed the way we see the natural world -and in the process created modern environmentalism.

Renew / Become a Member

REAPS has been an effective environmental organization in the Prince George area for twenty-eight (28) years. There are two main reasons for this success: (1) a realistic focus on issues and projects that are appropriate for our size, resources, and goals, and (2) a loyal core of supporters and members.

We've been quite successful at obtaining funds from a wide range of private and public bodies, and we've consistently shown that when we get this support, we get results. Our record gives us credibility, and that credibility gives external funders confidence in our organization.

One important part of that credibility is our membership base. When we approach other organizations for the money that supports our pro-grams, it makes it so much easier when we can point to a healthy membership.

So the few dollars that your membership costs can make a much big-ger difference than you realize. REAPS, and the environmental sus-tainability of our community, will benefit from any contribution and level of involvement -- whether you become an active volunteer, attend our outreach events, or just read the newsletter. But above all, your mem-bership is a genuine vote of confidence. It tells our staff and volunteers that we're on the right track, and it shows government and industry that our common concerns have wide support -- and can't be ignored!

Please show your support and renew your membership for 2017.

PAGE 3 HOTLINE 250 -561 -7327 REAPS REPORT

LOCAL NEWS

January 15th - Join Caledonia Nordic as they celebrate winter and Nordic sports all day. Trail passes are free and there will

be lots of activities!

Watch for the Piston Bully in the afternoon where you can chat with the Head Groomer and get a tour of the machine. Please register and pay for the Nordic Winter Festival Sessions

and Chocolate Race at the Reg-istration table in the rental shop. The registration table will be open from 9:00am - 2:30pm. **CASH ONLY** Rental equipment will be availa-ble on a first come, first served basis. Regular rental prices

apply.

Contact: 250-564-3809 | Visit

Website

Nordic Winter Festival

Evenings of Films

Showing Documentaries from around the world, the 25th annual Travelling World Community Film Festival comes to Prince George.

March 8 – 16

24 Documentaries

Find out more by visiting their Facebook Page.

Seedy Saturday

Come by the Exploration Place and participate in

Seedy Saturday. Bring your seeds to trade or sell. Or,

just buy seeds for the upcoming season! Seeds

should be clean and labeled. For more information

or to book a table, contact: jovanka@netbistro.com

Saturday, February 25, 2017

11:00am - 3:00pm Exploration Place

Downtown Winter Carnival

February 12th - Celebrate and participate in Prince George's

inaugural winter carnival.

Sign up now to participate in There's Smore Downtown, a friendly competition that involves creating and selling the best, toastiest treats around. Businesses or groups can sign up to raise funds for their favourite charitable organization. Stay tuned for even more information.

Come celebrate all things winter! Contact: Visit Website

PAGE 4 REAPS REPORT HOTLINE 250 -561 -7327

AROUND BC

B.C. Joins Alliance to Fight Ocean Acidification

December 13th British Columbia joined Washington, Oregon and Cali-fornia in officially forming the International Alliance to Combat Ocean

Acidification.

“The Pacific Ocean is crucial to our economy, but more than that, it’s a fundamental part of our identity as British Columbians," said Premier Christy Clark. "As a province, we are committed to doing what we can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our ocean. As climate leaders, we can achieve more by working together,” added Premier Clark. “I am proud to join the governors of Washington, Oregon and California in inviting other governments to join the alliance – because when jurisdictions both large and small work togeth-

er on climate leadership, it makes a global impact.”

Alliance members will work to advance five goals:

1/ Advance scientific understanding of ocean acidification;

2/ Take meaningful actions to reduce causes of acidification;

3/ Protect the environment and coastal communities from

impacts of a changing ocean;

4/ Expand public awareness and understanding of acidifica-

tion; and

5/ Build sustained support for addressing this global problem.

Some Facts:

1/ Research shows ocean acidification resulting from greenhouse gas emissions has increased by 30% and is expected to double over pre-

industrial levels by the end of the 21st century.

2/ The oceans are the primary protein source for 2.6 billion people,

and support $2.5 trillion of economic activity each year.

Learn More – http://oaalliance.org/

Keep Coffee Cups Out of Landfills SOURCE: MetroNews

British Columbians are making a difference One of the ways British Columbians can help reduce Greenhouse Gas is by choosing to recycle, and by and large we are. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, recycling requires less energy (and fossil fuels) than producing the same product or packaging from raw materials. Further, in its “Waste and Climate Change: Global Trends and Strategy Frameword” (2010), the United Nations Environment Pro-gramme reported that “[t]his is es-pecially true for energy-intensive production processes, such as metals, glass, plastic and paper…” and “After waste prevention, recy-cling has been shown to result in the highest climate benefit com-pared to other waste management

approaches.”

In a province-wide 2015 survey of recycling habits and perceptions, MMBC found that 75% of those surveyed reported go out of their way to recycle. The data backs that up; MMBC is recycling more than 185,000 metric tonnes of residential packaging and printed paper every

year.

MMBC recovers 80% of packaging and printed paper supplied to the BC market by its member business-es, recycling more than 185,000 metric tonnes every year. Over 93% of the material collected through MMBC’s program is recycled and less than 7% requires landfill. The 7% that is not recyclable may in-clude packaging types that are not able to be recycled because tech-nology does not exist or the materi-

al is too contaminated to process.

TO READ MORE

Big Changes Start at Home SOURCE: RECYCLINGINBC.CA

Binners brought in 48,000 coffee cups at this year’s pop-up recy-cling depot hosted by the Binner’s

Project at Victoria Square.

The Binner’s Project fundraises through-out the year to pro-vide enough money for the Coffee Cup Revolution event, where they will give people five cents for every coffee cup brought in. The group raises funds in advance through dona-

tions and partner organizations.

This initiative highlights the bene-fits that an extended refund sys-tem could have on the urban envi-ronment, as well as on the mar-ginalised populations who could

increase their income with the

refund from used cups.

The organizer shared with the City of Vancouver the idea to

create a program that would see a refund-deposit for paper cups similar to the beverage cans and bottles. Organizers believe if the cups were refundable the street would be

cleaner, less waste going to the landfill and economic opportuni-

ties would open to the community.

The Binner’s Project started in 2014 with an experimental initia-tive grant and strategic support from Vancouver non profit One

Earth.

PAGE 5 REAPS REPORT HOTLINE 250 -561 -7327

AROUND CANADA

Levi’s Brings Recycling Program to Canada Source: Marketing Magazine

Poachers and polluters beware: The B.C. Wildlife Federation has launched a new smartphone app that makes it easier than ever to report illegal dumping, poaching and other

backcountry violations from anywhere in B.C.

As an added bonus, citizens that report an incident leading to a conviction could walk

away with a $2,000 reward.

“We hope to add thousands of eyeballs to the fight to preserve our natural resources,” said BCWF spokesman Jesse Zeman. “The con-servation ethic in B.C. isn’t as strong as it used to be and we are seeing people dumping trash on forest service roads rather than pay $5 at

the dump.”

The BCWF Conservation App — now availa-ble for iPhone users — allows hikers, hunters

and climbers to snap a time-stamped, geo-located picture or video of a violation and sub-mit it to the appropriate enforcement agency with just four clicks. The Android version is due next year. The conservation app collects user information on all kinds of backcountry violations, including drinking, water pollution, garbage dumping, wetland and riparian dam-

age, illegal fishing and wildlife poaching.

Wildlife Federation Launches app source: Vancouver Sun

Imagine decreasing the amount of textiles that ends up in your landfills while rais-ing funds to help Canada’s 11 million people with diabe-tes or prediabetes.

For more than 30 years, Clothesline has been collect-ing millions of pounds of gently used textiles through drop boxes, home deliveries and partnerships. It’s good for the environ-ment and rais-es $10 million annually for the Canadian Diabetes As-sociation (CDA).

Clothesline

works municipal partners to divert textiles from the land-fill.

Clothesline accepts gently used clothing, bedding, blan-kets, drapes, footwear and more!

100% of the net proceeds go to the CDA.

Clothesline and Canadian Diabe-tes Assoc. - Textile Recycling

Levi’s has expanded its clothing recycling program to all stores and outlets in Canada. Consumers can drop off any brand of clothing or shoes in collection boxes at the stores. The initiative, in partnership with I:Collect (I:CO), launched as a pilot project in three stores in San Fran-cisco in 2014, and was expanded to all American Levi’s stores last year. The program is also available in the U.K. and Japan. I:CO is a solutions provider for reus-ing and recycling apparel and foot-wear. Wearable items are resold, while other pieces are reused as products such as cleaning cloths, recycled into fibers for insulation and paddings, or upcycled into new products. Michael Kobori, vice-president of sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co.,

told Marketing the program demon-strated to consumers that Levi’s was “walking the walk and moving to-wards a closed loop/circular econo-my.” Kobori said the company was thinking about sustainability across all facets of its business and how to shift consumer behaviour to make recycling clothing the norm. “Asking people to do things that are new and that they normally do not do is a challenge,” he said. “We have approached this by creating an incentive program offering 20% off consumers’ next single-item pur-chase every time they bring in cloth-ing or footwear to be recycled...has been our most successful redemp-tion program to date.” To raise awareness of the program in Canada, Levi’s has created in-store signage and is promoting it via social media. Store associates are

also helping to spread the word.

The average American or Canadian throws away between 33

and 65 pounds of clothing per year, while the fashion industry

is the second highest polluting industry in the world. In light of

the massive amount of waste produced annually, we as a glob-

al community need to rethink our approach to consumption and

increasingly shift our mindset from a linear "take, make, and

dispose" school of thought to "reduce, reuse, and recycle," thus

creating a circular, self-perpetuating economy. In other words,

reuse is a critical action in the circular economy by helping to

keep items out of landfills. Instead of buying brand new

clothing, you could support the circular, sharing economy

by buying from second-hand clothing stores or renting

one-time use outfits. You could also consider swapping/

sharing with people you know, or re-sell your clothing

online. These clothes will get a few more 'wears' out of

them, do not need to be shipped or manufactured, and

stay out of landfills for longer.

Work Together - Create a Culture of Reuse

PAGE 6 REAPS REPORT HOTLINE 250 -561 -7327

AROUND THE WORLD

Over the past two years, Coca-Cola has

boosted its recycled PET production capabili-

ties by 20 percent, opening facilities and re-

cycling lines in nine different countries. It now

uses recycled PET in 24 countries.

But the worldwide beverage giant still failed

to meet its 25 percent recycled and renewa-

ble content goal last year, coming in at 12.4

percent, according to Coca Cola’s 2014 / 15

sustainability report. TO READ MORE

Coca-Cola Short on Recycling

Goal Source: Plastics Recycling Update

Lovingly called "our national fruit" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, apples once proliferated in Ameri-can backyards and orchards, a vital source of nutrition and a potent symbol of home. But now, most of the 15,000 named varieties grown here since 1804 are extinct. Only 15 kinds of apples (think Red Deli-cious and Gala) account for 90

percent of U.S. production.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) preserves 2,000 interna-tional varieties — some of what remains of the diversity of Malus pumila — in Geneva, New York. But in northwest Oregon, a 4,500-variety private collection of fruit suited to moderate climates sur-

passes the government effort.

There, three apple enthusiasts — Joanie Cooper, Shaun Shepherd and Franki Baccellieri — comprise the full staff of a minuscule non-profit called the Temperate Orchard Conservancy (TOC). The team is in the midst of cloning each variety in that collection; if they’re successful, said Cooper, TOC’s president and founder, "Those apples will be here for use and for study, long after any

of us are dead and gone."

Possibly as soon as next year,

seeds from those trees also will be sent to the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway, where they’ll be preserved, according to the vault’s mission, to offer "options for future generations to overcome the challenges of climate change

and population growth."

The collection originally was amassed by a man named Nick Botner. For 30 years, Botner grew an ever-larger selection of heirloom varietals in what eventually be-came, as he aged and ailed, an overgrown, undertended orchard. In 2011, he put his property on the

market.

The TOC team knew Botner from their mutual affiliation with another apple-related organization. They recognized the adverse repercus-sions on orchard fruit diversity if his collection were sold and plowed under. Together, and with Botner’s blessing, they started in on what Cooper — a lifelong gardener and apple identification buff — laugh-ingly calls the "kind of foolish," monumental task of replicating

Botner’s trees.

TO READ MORE

How2Recycle Label Grows Source: Plastics Recycling Update

Recycling’s Role - Fight Against Climate Change Source: Resource Recycling

Curbside recycling can place additional trucks on the road. But the recycling process ultimately brings environmental benefits that far out-weigh the extra vehicle emissions, according to a study by Waste Man-

agement.

The publicly traded hauling giant Waste Management found the green-house gas harm brought by extra routes needed for recycling collection pales in comparison to the environmental benefits materials recovered

creates by offsetting manufacturers’ need to use virgin resources.

Waste Management’s research aimed to quantify the financial costs and greenhouse gases reduction benefits of the company’s various

waste management strategies. TO READ MORE

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) project entitled - The How2Recycle celebrated many milestones in 2016, including a big boost

from Walmart.

The retail giant encourages its product suppliers to use “The How2Recycle” label which clearly informs con-sumers if and how they should recycle the packag-ing. The How2Recycle label also is bilingual with a rollout in Canada and has been

joined by a “How2Compost” label.

The How2Recycle label launched in 2012 with 12 pilot participant com-panies and has grown exponentially in subsequent years...cumulatively,

their members represent around 500 brands in the marketplace.

TO READ MORE

Saving Apple Pie Reprinted with permission from GreenBiz.com

Sustainability has been complicated in 2016. We’ve witnessed rising global temperatures, the acceptance of the Paris Agreement, the elevation of Na-tive American voices and the rise of resilience in cities. Social impact has become embedded into more business strategies while companies accumulat-ed and assimilated more data through

the Internet of Things.

At its best, media informs and simplifies the changing world, but a surplus of information does not always help. Digi-

tal media has had a complex year, with both traditional and "fake" news blamed for deepening political divisions in the

U.S.

Each of these 12 videos, on the other hand, tells a sustainability story clearly and creatively in 15 minutes or less. This assortment from a mix of corpo-rate and nonprofit voices offers lessons in effective messaging, as well as a snapshot of the state of sustainability

over the past year. TO VIDEOS

12 Eye Opening Sustainability Videos from 2016 Reprinted with permission from GreenBiz.com

PAGE 7 REAPS REPORT HOTLINE 250 -561 -7327

1. Save energy to save money

Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a

few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cool-ing costs.

Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older

incandescent bulbs burn out.

Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a

"smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.

Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85

percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.

2. Save water to save money.

Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your

water and heating bills too.

Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the

water and energy savings can quickly pay back your invest-

ment.

Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These

inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keep-

ing water pressure high. Plant drought-tolerant native plants in

your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out

which occur naturally in your area.

3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).

Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs

while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your

risk of obesity.

Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move

closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you

money in the long term.

4. Eat smart.

If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a

lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consid-

er the related environmental and health costs.

Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy

whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps mon-

ey in the local economy.

Watch videos about why local food and sustainable sea-

food are so great.

Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is

especially true for seafood.

5. Skip the bottled water.

Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled

water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates

large amounts of container waste.

Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than

plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

6. Think before you buy.

Go online to find new or gently used second-hand products.

Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, con-sider a service like freecycle to track down furniture, applianc-

es, and other items cheaply or for free.

Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops

for clothing and other everyday items.

7. Borrow instead of buying.

Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and

movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your

neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8. Keep electronics out of the trash.

Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as

long as possible.

Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-

waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing envi-

ronmental problem.

Recycle your cell phone.

9. Make your own cleaning supplies.

The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning

products whenever you need them. All you need are a few

simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.

Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and

packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

10. Buy Smart

Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money

and packaging.

Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves

money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay

more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace

items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

Make 2017 a Greener One

PAGE 8 REAPS REPORT HOTLINE 250 -561 -7327

Recycling and Environmental Action

Planning Society (AKA REAPS)

The REAPS Report is published six times a year, on the first of

January, March, May, July, September, and November.

Articles, originals or reprinted with permission, are submitted by members and represent the opinions of the authors only, not necessarily those of the Society, Board, or members as a

whole.

Deadline for submission is two weeks prior to publication date. Articles, suggestions for articles, or comments in general are much appreciated, and can be submitted to the REAPS office via email at newsletter@reaps.org

If you no longer wish to receive our newslet-

ters via email please email REAPS and state

UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Mailing address: PO Box 444, Prince George, BC V2L 4S6 Compost Garden and Office Location: 1950 Gorse Street

RECYCLI NG & ENVI RONM ENTAL ACTION & PLANNING SOCI ETY

Phone: 250-561-7327 Fax: 250-561-7324 E-mail: newsletter@reaps.org Website: www.reaps.org Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/REAPSPG

Email:

RECYCLE CRAFT CORNER

Dumpy’s Tip of the Month

STOP WASTING FOOD

I can still hear my parents telling us children to think of all of the starving children every time we didn't finish our dinner or threw away leftovers

we forgot to finish? With our busy lifestyles and so many yummy offerings at the supermarket, it’s pretty easy to end up literally throwing away pounds of food and money each week, a prac-

tice that is as bad for the environment as it is for your wallet. The good news is it is a simple fix with a small design change in your refrigerator.

By setting up a fridge triage box, you can modify your behavior and that of your family by making it super obvious what needs to be eaten first before it goes bad. As simplistic as it

may seem, this small addition to your kitchen can make a big difference in the amount of CO2 that results from food waste as well as on your

annual grocery budget.

Make sure that the birds stay fed and happy this winter by making them this bird cake, and attract some inter-

esting wildlife into your backyard.

You will need:

Bacon fat Birdseed A heatproof drinks cup

String

Instructions:

Make a small hole in the base of the drinks cup and thread through the string, leaving a few inches

either side of the cup.

Melt the fat gently and mix with the birdseed (this should be done by an adult or with close adult supervi-

sion). Leave to cool slightly, then pack it into the cup, making sure the string comes out of the middle

of the cup. Leave to cool.

Remove the cup and tie the string around the cake to secure. Tie the cake in your garden for the birds to

enjoy.