Media Clipping — July 8, 2004, The Guardian, Charlottetown, PEI

N.S. applauded for waste strategy

Nova Scotia may have something to teach the rest of the country, if not the world, about dealing with garbage, a non-profit research group suggested Wednesday.

A report by Genuine Progress Index Atlantic concludes the province's solid waste management strategy is saving taxpayers at least $31 million a year.

Lead author Sally Walker said the study took into account the $72.5 million spent collecting and sorting trash each year since 1989.

But, she said, it also assigned a dollar value to benefits such as extended landfill life, reduced air pollution and job creation.

"People tend to look after the things they value," said Walker.

"There are many, many benefits. Since 1989, the waste management industry alone has added about 1,100 jobs. We did value that at between $6 million and $9 million a year."

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