Nov. 10, 2011

• In London, energy use is the largest contributor to air emissions related to energy generation.
• Buying from other countries involves transportation, processing and packaging costs that increase energy use.    
• Yard and kitchen waste make for more than 30% of household waste.  
• Since 1989, 649 of Ontario’s 730 landfills have reached capacity.
• Of the 81 landfills that remain, only 32 have any significant capacity and are within range of major population centres.

Only through educating ourselves and our children about the environmental choices we are making, can we hope to change behaviour towards the health of our air, water and selves.

With a $10,000 Clean Air Challenge grant, Thames Region Ecological Association’s (TREA)’s Taking the Right Step project will enhance public inquiry line Rot-line service by developing an education module to be used as part of the current London and Middlesex grade 8 curriculum on informed consumer decisions in purchasing choices and economic choices for a healthy environment.  

Class visits are expected to include 10 schools the first year. The education module will also be adapted and promoted to places of worship and neighbourhoods.

Piloting this module with 300 students and their families, will result in an estimated emissions reduction of .125T/person (37.5T reduction in GGE) with home composting matched by a significant energy savings based on citizens not contributing to transportation, waste and energy use involving food delivery, packaging, purchasing and one additional day/week with a vegetable-based diet.  

London Community Foundation is pleased to have awarded this project $10,000 through the 2011 Clean Air Challenge Grant Program.