Initiatives

Provincial Activities

• Stewardship Information and Exchange Survey
  To better understand and recognize stewardship initiatives taken by Alberta's industry, businesses and municipalities, Alberta Environment developed a Web-based survey to obtain information about voluntary environmental activities that go beyond compliance. The data collected will promote environmental stewardship through the Stewardship Information & Exchange website.

• Alberta Environment co-chaired the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) Pollution Prevention/Continuous Improvement (P2/CI) Project Team to develop a P2/CI framework for the Alliance. The framework adopted by the CASA Board includes recommendations that can be implemented by most of the major industrial sectors in Alberta and by government. The framework includes a particular focus on outreach activities. The report and additional information can be found on CASA's website at www.casahome.org.
   
• Alberta Environment co-chairs a Clean Air Strategic Alliance, multi-stakeholder Project Team to develop recommendations for Alberta's Particulate Matter (PM) and Ozone Canada-wide Standards Implementation Plan.
   
  • The Project Team is developing a proposal for the PM and Ozone management framework in Alberta that is focused on keeping Alberta's clean air clean. The framework encourages P2 as a means of avoiding air quality problems in the future and to improve air quality where PM and ozone levels are a concern. Please refer to CASA's website for additional information:
    www.casahome.org/for_stakeholders/issue_teams/PMO3.asp
    
    
• The Alberta Environmental Farm Plan program assists producers in learning more about how their practices affect the environment; the management options available to them to help protect the air, land and water resources; and identifying what they are already doing well and where improvements can be made. Further information is available at www.albertaefp.ca
  
  
• Alberta Environment develops promotional material that supports pollution prevention initiatives. In partnership with Alberta Environment's Regional Offices a poster was developed to promote the safe use of anhydrous ammonia. The posters were delivered to all United Farmers of Alberta facilities across Alberta during the spring inspection sweeps held in May of 2005.

National Activities

• Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)
   
  CCME P2 Awards
   
  • The CCME is committed to P2.
  • The CCME recognizes significant achievements in P2 through its Annual P2 Awards.
  • Alberta Environment actively promotes the awards in Alberta, supports and participates in the Awards program development, operations and delivery.
  • For future details, visit the CCME website at www.ccme.ca/.
     
• Canada-Wide Standards (CWSs)
   
  Canada-Wide Standards set out principles for governments to jointly agree on priorities, to develop standards, and to prepare complementary work plans to achieve those standards, based on the unique responsibilities and legislation of each government. For further information on the Canada-Wide Standards, visit CCME's website at www.ccme.ca/initiatives/standards.html
   
  • Canada-Wide Standards incorporate pollution prevention (P2) as a priority.
  • Alberta Environment leads or is an active participant in all six CWS activities and encourages the use of P2.
  • The six CWS substances are:
    • Particulate Matter
    • Ozone
    • Benzene
    • Dioxins and Furans
    • Petroleum Hydrocarbons
    • Mercury
  • Alberta Environment incorporates P2 strategies in its implementation activity.
     
• EnviroVista Program
   
  Detailed information is posted on Alberta Environment's website at www3.gov.ab.ca/env/protenf/approvals/factsheets/enviroVista.html
   
• Pollution Prevention and Control: Industrial Initiatives in Northern Alberta (2002) - "Northern Rivers Ecosystems Initiative"
   
  The Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative (NREI) was established to address the recommendations of the five-year Northern River Basins Study (NRBS) that comprehensively evaluated the effects of northern development on northern river ecosystems.
   
  The recommendations and the government's response identified pollution prevention as a primary environmental objective.
   
  NRBS Recommendation 1.1 states:
   
  Regulatory agencies for the northern rivers declare and implement, through law, policy, and practice, pollution prevention, including, but not limited to zero discharge, as a primary environmental objective and as an important component of sustainable development.
   
  The governments' response to Recommendation 1.1 states:
   
  The governments of Canada, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories declare pollution prevention as a primary environmental objective and as an essential component of sustainable development.
   
  Although all environmental protection actions provide benefits, often the greatest opportunities for reducing environmental or health risks and associated costs are at the top of hierarchy with pollution prevention activities giving the greatest benefits. The complete document can be found at:
  http://environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/6649.pdf
   
• Pollution Prevention Program Development - Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
   
  SMEs collectively may create considerable pollution. These sectors are typically less closely regulated than large operations. As well, the small size of these companies makes it difficult for them to devote significant resources to P2 activities. In such cases, government outreach programs and education with information or fact sheets may be appropriate. Industry associations and other organizations such as Chambers of Commerce can assist their members by organizing or sponsoring education or training sessions as well as other education and outreach activities. Small and Medium Enterprises present opportunities to employ P2 strategies to reduce waste.
   
  The Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention has developed a website specifically for SMEs on pollution prevention and other environmental information that contains preliminary information for different SME sectors.
  (See: www.c2p2online.com/smep2)
   
  Alberta Environment is active on a number of fronts involving SMEs:
   
  • Ready Mix Concrete (ARMCA Environmental Committee)
     
    An Environmental Committee, consisting of members from the private sector and Alberta Environment, have been working on ARMCA's Best Management Practices document. The document will provide guidelines to the ready mixed concrete industry for becoming environmentally pro-active with the support of the Federal and Provincial governments. Visit www.armca.net for availability.
     
  • 'Burn It Smart' Workshops
     
    Alberta Environment encouraged and co-operated with the Hearth, Patio and BBQ Association of Canada in their delivery of the "Burn It Smart" workshops in Alberta. The objectives of the program were:
    • Encourage P2 by raising awareness of the air toxics in wood smoke.
    • Inform users about clean burning strategies and new higher efficiency, cleaner burning technologies.
    • Inform users about the safe operation and installation of wood burning appliances.
       
      Visit the Burn It Smart website at www.burnitsmart.org
       
  • Plastics
     
    The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) is currently developing a National Code of Practice (Sustainable Management Program) for the entire Canadian Plastics Industry. The project will explore accountability and responsibility aspects of environmental health, occupational health, standards and practices that can be put in place, audited and certified.
     
    Alberta Environment has partnered with CPIA to participate in eight workshops being held across the province in the spring of 2005
     
    As well, the Vinyl Council of Canada (VCC) has developed an Environmental Management Program to manufacture vinyl products in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Visit their website at www.plastics.ca/vinyl.
     
  • Mercury Switch Out Program (Switch Out Alberta)
     
    Alberta Environment is in a partnership with the Clean Air Foundation and Alberta auto recycling industry to launch a program to collect and recycle mercury switches from retired automobiles.
     
    The recycling of vehicles is the fourth largest source of mercury emissions in Canada. Collection programs in Canada (including the Clean Air Foundation switch-out program) and the United States have demonstrated the potential to reduce emissions of mercury to the environment. Strategies under these programs are to reduce use of mercury in automobile manufacturing and to collect and recycle mercury now in use.
     
    Auto recyclers will remove the mercury-filled switches from retired automobiles under the Switch Out Program, the switches are then sent to Fluorescent Lamp Recyclers (FLR) Technologies Inc. in Ontario to be recycled.
     
    Visit the CAF website for further information:
    www.switchout.ca/
     
  • Pollution Prevention Manual for the Alberta Road Building and Heavy Construction Association (2002)
     
    Alberta Environment, in partnership with Environment Canada and the Alberta Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, initiated a study to review pollution prevention opportunities in the road building and heavy construction industry in Alberta. The study identified the causes of waste generation and toxic substances used within the industry. This information was then used to develop a pollution prevention manual to assist this industry in reducing pollution and decreasing operating costs.
     
    The Pollution Prevention Manual may be ordered on-line at www.arhca.ab.ca under "ARHCA Publications and Products". If you have any questions, you can contact Heidi Harris, ARHCA Communications Manager at heidi@arhca.ab.ca or by phone at 780-436-9860.
     

Success Stories

Alberta companies have been sucessful over the years to be chosen for recognition under the CCME P2 Awards. For detailed information on the current and previous award recipients please refer to the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention site at: http://www.c2p2online.com/main.php3?session=§ion=98&doc_id=65