WASTE REDUCTION

First Nations Waste Minimization Program

Minimizing and reducing waste in your community can result in immediate environmental benefits, both locally and globally.

Benefits of Waste Management

How to plan to reduce waste

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Waste Reduction in Indigenous Communities

Waste Reduction in the Community

Starting a waste reduction program is easier to do with support from all levels – Chief, Council, landfill staff, teachers, and community members. It’s also more likely to be successful and last over time.

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A few ways to build support:

Educate community members on how to reduce and re-use items along with what can be recycled, and why it’s important to participate. Let them know which items are hazardous and how to deal with them.
Make it simple and easy for people to take part in your waste reduction and recycling program, so that it gets off to a positive start. Then everyone can be proud of and share in its success.
Let residents know how many hazardous and recyclable materials have been collected and removed from the community, and how they have helped.

Waste Reduction at School

Youth are most often the most enthusiastic, passionate, and propelled to take action when it comes to protecting Mother Earth. Schools provide the ideal environment for students to learn, understand, and practice how to reduce waste. One of these ways is by learning about the 7R’s of Sustainability: Respect, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Regift, and Rot (compost).

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As the prophesized Seventh Generation, they will lead the way at inspiring others into taking action within their communities to ensure our planet is here !Youth can learn a variety of ways to spark change within their communities and educators can help them learn how to take action through activities such as – creating green clubs, having classroom discussions on waste reduction, learning how to live on the land, setting up composting and/or recycling at their school, and more.

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Scroll down to learn about our experiences working with First Nation schools in Manitoba and how we continue to inspire children and youth into taking action on protecting Mother Aki!

Waste Reduction at the Waste Site

Within your landfill or transfer station are a variety of materials that can or should be removed. Some are hazardous and toxic while others can be reused or recycled.

The environmental and health benefits for your community are many. There are also economic reasons, as reducing the amount of materials in your landfill will extend its life.

Benefits of Waste Management

Boost to local food

Growing food in the community provides fresh, healthy produce and reduces the amount of food packaging waste

Water Protection

Protect your water from the dangers posed by hazardous wastes seeping into the ground, lakes and rivers

Health of the Land

Keep Mother Earth healthy for future generations

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