Message from Annabel

by Annabel Strate-Freiesen  (February 2014)

Hello, my name is Annabel, I am 11 and a half years old and I am in the 6th grade. Ever since I was little, I have been asthmat- ic and therefore very sensitive to my surroundings. This is probably what led me to be concerned with my environment. When I read in the newspapers that the glass containers that we recycle after cleaning found themselves largely in the rubbish, I wanted to know if this was the case in our municipality. I contacted Ms. Isabelle Boucher is the environmental coordinator at the MRC Jardins-de-Napierville and asked her some questions. Here is the result of my interview:

Q: We read in the newspapers that a large percentage of the glass that is collected is sent to a landfill because of its poor quality. Is it the case to the MRC Jardins-de-Napierville?
A: The situation is similar across the province. This is not only because of poor quality, but also for lack of interested companies to transform this region.
Q: What is the volume of glass that is actually recycled?
A: I do not have those numbers, sorry!
Q: What happens with glass when we put it in the recycling bin? A: The glass is sometimes sent to landfills to serve for roads or as cover material. It is true that this is not a very noble use for this material as it could have a second life!
Q: What should be done to avoid this? In your opinion, in an ideal world, what should be done by citizens, the municipality, the MRC and the recycling companies?
A: In an ideal world, people would continue their recycling efforts until the industry finds interesting opportunities. I hope this answers your questions?
Ms. Boucher also sent me a link to a page that explains how glass is made and why it is more advantageous to recycle. Here it is: www.ridt.ca/gestion-des-matieres-residuelles/materiaux-recyclables/verre

I enjoyed this experience in journalism but I wish I had more en- couraging responses and real solutions. As I participated in the Glass Verde operation, I realized that it was important to continue to record the glass containers and to do all we can to prevent glass from being,… “sent to landfills to serve for roads or as cover material… “, as Isabelle Boucher said in the interview.

Thank you for reading my article; stay tuned for my next environmental topic.