Archive for July, 2009
With the garbage crisis in Toronto, we think these ideas from our friend Isaac Rudik at Compliance Solutions Canada are particularly useful, be sure to visit his site for help with managing your environmental risks.
The more a business reduces, reuses and recycles, the less waste it needs to dispose. The less waste, the fewer bins or pickups are required and disposal fees drop. Anything that lowers operating costs adds to the bottom line.
By Isaac Rudik at Compliance Solutions Canada
Not long ago, a 70-year old Ontario hospital was to be razed – right down to the footings and foundation – before being rebuilt. A simple job except the hospital told the contractor that at least 50% of the material had to go somewhere other than a landfill.
Once hazardous material was removed, the demolition contractor physically inspected the property, prioritizing and marking items for reuse. A detailed waste management plan identified a schedule of activities and workers were instructed in proper techniques and workmanship. Materials were handled carefully, maximizing reuse and recycling opportunities.
Continue reading
We have recently completed a new feature in Nimonik. Our “Dates” function allows you to see a calendar of important environmental dates. Three types are displayed
- Legislative updates are mentioned based on the date written and date in effect.
- Important reporting dates are on the calendar (NPRI, GHG, Hazardous Materials…).
- Any documents you upload to your facilities are posted to the calendar as expiration dates approach.
See this video to better understand the new feature. Let us know what you think!
P.S. Soon, you will be able to synchronize the calendar with your desktop application (Microsoft Outlook, iCal, and others).
There are many benefits to local and foreign grown food. Local is not always better, but outsourcing our food to developing nations does not seem wise either. Not very much to add, except that the video below is quite remarkable. I highly recommend watching it to appreciate the state of Canadian produce. Video:
Hellman’s – It’s Time for Real from CRUSH on Vimeo.
Dianne Saxe discusses the options available to Ottawa and the provincial governments when it comes to climate change legislation. Here’s what she has to say about Ontario’s current situation:
“Comments on Ontario’s cap and trade plan are due in three weeks, on July 24. However, the policy context has changed dramatically since Ontario’s discussion paper was drafted, and is continuing to mutate quickly. Canada has done so little for so long that our climate policy has laid us wide open to the serious protectionist provisions in the 1500 page US House of Representatives Bill HR 2454, the American Clean Energy Security Act. That likely means that Canadian rules must match American ones.”
As we’ve already discussed here, the U.S. bill calls for reducing our Southern neighbour’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. It also includes a cap and trade system, and a requirement that utilities get at least 15 per cent of their electricity from renewable fuels.
More worrying for Canadian companies, the bill targets a range of sectors from the cement industry to steel producers and could end up giving the U.S. government the power to block the entry of energy intensive imports from countries that do not meet U.S. standards. With these proposed border adjustments and the prospect of other countries imposing carbon tariffs, Canadian exporters will have no choice but to come up with effective carbon reduction strategies to stay competitive in their industry.
First and foremost though, Canada will have to ensure that its targets, enforcement mechanisms and its reporting rules are consistent American ones.
The interplay between climate change and trade issues promises to be a hot topic in the years ahead.
Manufacturers storing raw material from paint to corrosives will face much heftier fines and stiffer “we got you” sanctions – all the way up to temporary plant closures – if storage cabinets don’t meet regulations.
– By Isaac Rudik at Compliance Solutions Canada – a Nimonik Affiliate Partner
As anyone who fishes can attest, getting caught over the limit –- whether it’s one too many trout on a line in an isolated, northern lake or a huge trawler netting too many tons of albacore in the middle of the open ocean -– can result in a hefty fine and other stiff sanctions.
The idea is to levy a penalty large enough so that fishers loose the value of their catch plus fork over a painful, “don’t ever do that again” fine.
Now, improperly storing hazardous materials will trigger even higher fines, and for the same reason
The Ministry of Environment is adopting the same approach as fish and game wardens to penalise companies improperly handling and storing hazardous material. When fully implemented, manufacturers who store raw material from paint to corrosives and other contaminants will face much heftier fines and stiffer, “we caught you red handed,” sanctions – all the way up to temporary plant closures – if storage cabinets do not comply with regulations.
The reason behind the tough, new and potentially very costly tactic is because a leading cause of industrial fires is improperly stored and handled flammable liquids. To minimize the hazard, the government wants businesses to identify and inventory any chemicals in the workplace, storing them in code-compliant safety cabinets. If an inspector finds non-compliance, the days of a slap on the wrist are gone.
