2 Cree communities expanding recycling programs

Two Quebec communities are working to be greener this year, by expanding or starting recycling programs.

Before the Christmas holiday,Chisasibi the largest of the Cree communities in Quebec with a population of 5,000 started offering residential recycling for the very first time. And in November, Ouj-Bougoumoulaunched a 3-month-long, community-wide recycling pilot project.

Residents in Chisasibiwere showing interest in getting a recycling program. "People were asking when they came back from studying in the South, 'Why doesn'tChisasibihave recycling?'" said MatthewChiskamish, land and environment administrator for the community.

He said they are focusing on hazardous household materials such as aerosols, batteries and old paint, as well as old electronics, such as televisions, cell phones, keyboards and computers. The only kind of batteries not accepted at the moment, according to Chiskamish, are car batteries.

Reducinghazardous waste

Chisasibi has been running a pilot project for the last five or six years that recyclesitems from commercial buildings in the community.Chiskamish said he's happy to see it expand. Now the service is available to 70 homes, with a plan to double that number next year.

"It's very important because of the hazardous waste that's being buried out on the land," saidChiskamish.

The 70 homes are spread throughout the community; each household hasbeen given a 50 gallon blue bin anda supply of blue bags.Chiskamishsaid the biggest challenge will be educatingpeople who don't haveexperience recycling.

"Some people have never done recycling, so we want to see what's inside those blue bags," saidChiskamish, adding the band office has also distributed educationalpamphlets, which showpeople what is recyclable and what isn't.

Chiskamishsaid plans are also underway to build aneco-centre inChisasibi, which will allow the residential recycling program to be expanded to more homes and to include a wider variety of items such as paper andaluminum.

People are 'excited'

Chisasibiisn't the only Cree community trying to reduce its environmental footprint. The Cree community ofOuj-Bougoumou, located more than a thousand kilometres south ofChisasibi, launched a community-wide pilotprojectin November of last year to recycle items such as paper, metal, glass and plastics.

It's part of a 3-month pilot project that has beenvery well received, according to DonovanSimard, communications officer for the recycling program.

"People [are]really excited about it," saidSimard, adding the natural resources department for the band has installed eight large bins around the community.

It's very importantbecause of the hazardous waste that's being buried out on thelandMatthew Chiskamish, land and environment administrator

"We've been getting a lot of participation and the filling rate is really awesome too. Lots and lots of recycles."

Simardsaid someOuj-Bougoumouresidents were driving theirrecyclablesto nearby non-Cree communities to avoidputting them in the trash."[Now]they don't need to go toChibougamauorChapaisthey can just go to one of the bins," saidSimard, adding it feels really good to bring this to the community.

Simardsaid there are also plans in his community to build an eco-centerin the coming years.

"We want to increase the lifespan of our landfills," said Simard.

Chisasibi and Ouj-Bougoumou are not the first Cree communities to recycle. Wemindjistarted recycling in2006.