Winnipeggers are recycling more, using less water, and producing less greenhouse gas, says new report

WINNIPEG, June 1, 2017 — Winnipeggers reduced the per capita amount of waste sent to local landfills over a 15-year period—using recycling, composting and other programs to more than triple diverted waste. Winnipeggers also used 50 per cent less water and produced fewer greenhouse gas emissions over the same period.

These are just some of the findings available in Our City: A Peg Report on the Natural and Built Environment. The report explores how the state of our environment has a profound impact on our health, well-being and ability to prosper. It also reveals how we as citizens are impacting the environment around us.

“This third Peg well-being report gives us insight into the relationship Winnipeggers have with the city’s natural and built environment,” said Scott Vaughan, President-CEO, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

“We can pride ourselves on our clean air and water, our parks, open spaces and joint actions to reduce our environmental footprint in so many ways by so many individual actions—such as diverting waste from the landfill and public and active transit decisions. The indicators discussed in this report mirror everyday actions and values of Winnipeggers in creating a city where we all aspire to live.”

The report is being released in advance of World Environmental Day, Monday, June 5, 2017. This year’s theme is Connecting People to Nature. As host country, Canada chose the theme to encourage more people to get outdoors, appreciate nature’s beauty and importance, and protect the Earth we share.

The Peg report intends to add to important conversations already underway in our community about how we can improve conditions and make Winnipeg a healthier, more sustainable place to live.

Results were measured using 13 indicators: air quality, water quality, parks and open spaces, dwelling density, core housing need, waste and water diversion, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, transportation, collision victims, active leisure time, activity limitation and perception of safety.

While some indicators such as core housing need and dwelling density are improving, other aspects of our environment, including water quality, need further attention. And while we are sending less to the landfill, overall, we are throwing more away (garbage, recycling and compost collectively).

“The relationship between humans and our environment requires attention, care and work to achieve our goals for sustainability and well-being,” said Vaughan. “This report affirms where our efforts have made a difference, while identifying where we must do more as a community.”

The full report is available online at: http://www.mypeg.ca/node/61

An accompanying video is available at: https://youtu.be/GeHh3_PFod0

Peg (mypeg.ca) is a community indicator system that measures the health of our city year over year – in ways that count. Peg is led by two partnering organizations – the International Institute of Sustainable Development and United Way Winnipeg.

Peg is the starting place for citizens, educators, policy-makers, and other Winnipeggers to learn how we can help make Winnipeg better for all of us, for generations. At Peg we can all learn how our lives, our neighbourhoods and our city are changing – for better or worse. Learn more at www.mypeg.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Sumeep Bath

Media and Communications Officer, International Institute for Sustainable Development
Phone: 204-958-7700, ext. 740                                                     

Email: sbath@iisd.ca

or

Scott Sime

Vice-President, Marketing and Communications, United Way Winnipeg
Phone: 204-924-4250  (office) | 204-801-5877 (cell)                                                     

Email: ssime@unitedwaywinnipeg.mb.ca