Industrial Contaminants

Taking Action - What is Being Done, What Can You Do?

The Stockholm Convention

Site remediation work in Rock Bay, Victoria, B.C.

In 2001, Canada became the first country to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. This is an international agreement to eliminate PCBs, dioxin and furans, hexachlorobenzene, and pesticides, such as DDT.

The Canada Persistent Organic Pollutants Fund, established in 2000, helps developing countries implement the Stockholm Convention.

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) includes procedures for investigating, assessing and regulating substances that are, or might become, toxic.

The CEPA Environmental Registry provides information to the public and supports public participation in environmental decisions.

The B.C. Environmental Management Act

B.C. Environmental Management Act covers a broad range of provincial environmental regulations.

Contaminated Site Remediation

B.C.’s Contaminated Sites Program provides public access to current information on location and status of cleanup at contaminated sites.

---

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

One source of contaminants that is under control of individuals is backyard burning. Studies in the US found that the largest source of dioxin and furan emissions in the US is now backyard burning of household trash, including prunings and wood waste.

You can reduce the amount of pollutants you contribute to the environment:

• Have household garbage picked up by a licensed waste removal company or take it to a local landfill or transfer station.

• Compost yard and garden waste, food, and leaves. Rent a chipper or hire a service to chip tree prunings and brush to make mulch instead of burning them.

• Never burn toxic materials (e.g., tires, plastics, construction and demolition waste, treated and painted wood, or rubber). More information >>

• Buy recyclable and reusable products. Buy in bulk. Avoid excess packaging and disposable items.

• Separate recyclables and take them to your local recycling centre. (For more information, call the B.C. Recycling Hotline:
  1-800-667-4321.)

For More Ideas…

The Canadian Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth report [pdf].