Port Coquitlam residents can win a prize from the city by sharing their best story about how they ditched their trash by keeping it out of the dump.
The city is giving away an iPad, iPod, Sony Playstation 3 and other goodies to residents who tell their tale about getting rid of household garbage using an environmentally safe method.
The contest, which opened Wednesday, is part of the city's Waste-Loss Challenge that encourages people to "watch their waste-line" and to think about where their rubbish is going. The challenge is also aimed at diverting at least 70% of the city's garbage away from the landfill by asking residents to:
put recyclables in the blue cart
place food scraps, food-soiled papers and plant/yard trimmings in the green cart
bring glass to glass depots
take small appliances and electronics to return-it centres
refund drink containers, milk cartons and beverage/food tetra paks at the bottle depot
and donate or sell other unwanted items
The first 50 applicants who submit their stories and tips before May 23 will receive a month's supply of Bag to Earth liner containers.
To enter, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/wasteloss or pick up a form at city hall, Terry Fox library, recreation facilities or the city's operations centre on Broadway Street.
Stories must be between 150 and 250 words and can have photos attached. Only one entry per address is allowed.
"Essentially, this contest is about sharing ideas between neighbours and inspiring others to do a better job of disposing of their waste," Coun. Brad West, chair of the city's environmental enhancement committee, said in a news release. "We all benefit when we think about waste as something that can be re-used rather than something that should go to the landfill."
