Region releases environmental initiatives report   |
|
May 21, 2008
Region releases environmental initiatives report
Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo has released a comprehensive report outlining its many environmental achievements. The report, called Towards Regional Environmental Excellence, is an early step in the development of an Environmental Sustainability Strategy that will make a variety of environmental recommendations.
The report outlines more than 70 past and present Regional environmental initiatives that are helping to reduce environmental impacts. Highlights of the achievements include:
- Lowest water consumption per person of any major municipality in Canada
- An annual reduction of 1288 tonnes of air pollutants from switching to cleaner fuels and installation of advanced pollution control equipment on Regional fleet vehicles
- Generation of enough electricity to power 4,000 homes annually using methane from the Waterloo Landfill
- LED conversion of traffic signals in 2006/2007 resulted in a 70 per cent reduction in electricity translating into 1200 tonnes of greenhouse gases reduced annually
- Road salt reduced by 35 per cent (7000 tonnes) from 2000 to 2006
- Amount of land protected as Environmentally Sensitive Landscapes doubled in last three years to 17,000 acres
- 43 per cent of waste (approximately 79,000 tonnes) diverted annually from landfill towards recycling and reuse programs
"We should all be proud of these achievements, yet recognize there is a lot more work to be done to move towards sustainability," said Regional Sustainability Planner David Roewade.
The pending Environmental Sustainability Strategy, due out in early 2009, addresses the Council’s first focus area in the Region’s Strategic Plan: “Protect and Enhance the Environment.” The strategy is aimed at improving environmental sustainability in Waterloo Region and will integrate other Regional strategic objectives such as improving air quality, reducing waste, managing energy resources, as well as protecting land and water resources.
The full report is available by clicking here (pdf).
-30-
For more information, please contact:
David Roewade, Sustainability Planner, 519-575-4757 ext. 3308.
|
|
