As this latest blanket of snow melts, we are again reminded of the garbage along ditches, sidewalks and park paths that are littered with everything from paper to plastic bags, and water bottles and drink containers to aluminum cans.

I’ve been seeing different people in my community fit on the plastic gloves and go out for an evening walk with a garbage bag in hand and pick up litter.  The bending down and walking over the course of even half an hour is a great cardiovascular workout!  

Well, if you’re one of those who are out for a brisk walk and want to help make your community beautiful by picking up garbage as you go, you could ‘pick up’ some cash through the new Recycle Everywhere Mobile App that was recently launched by the Province.

Recycle Everywhere was joined by the Honourable Sarah Guillemard, Minister of Conservation and Climate at an announcement yesterday to officially launch an incentive program and mobile app that’s already giving back to Manitobans.

According to Thursday’s News Release, The Recycle Everywhere Mobile App allows people to track their recycling at a Recycle Everywhere blue bin for a chance to win up to $25,000 in cash and prizes.  The program’s first monthly winner, Colin Bazin, was presented with a $5,000 cheque.

 “Recycle Everywhere continues to be a leader among beverage container recycling programs in North America because it is highly responsive to and supportive of Manitobans’ recycling behaviours, and because it is focused on the big picture – reducing litter across the province,” said Minister Guillemard.

“Congratulations, Recycle Everywhere, for bringing Manitobans an incentive program and mobile app that will become an important step in Manitoba’s vision to become Canada’s cleanest, greenest and most climate-resilient province,” she added.

World Earth Day is coming up next week, from April 20-22, this year’s theme; ‘Restore Our Earth’.

“The Recycle Everywhere incentive program and mobile app is about encouraging Manitobans to recover more empty beverage containers by giving back,” says Ken Friesen, Executive Director of Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA), the organization that runs Recycle Everywhere.

“With cash and prizes, we are supporting local businesses and Manitobans as we slowly come out the pandemic,” shares Friesen.

Over the past week, Recycle Everywhere has initiated a number of other incentives to support Manitobans. It became a partner of the Canada Plastics Pact, an industry-led, collaborative platform that enables partners to tackle key challenges in reducing plastic waste and pollution.

It made its Clean Up Kits available to the public, with all 500 kits snapped up in just a few days. And a new campaign asks Manitobans to Help Close the Loop – a concept inspired by looking at how recycling plastic fits into the circular economy.

“Manitobans who put their beverage containers into blue bins not only divert waste, they extend the lifecycle of containers because the materials are able to keep coming back as new containers or as other products,” Friesen said. “In 2019, for instance, 77 per cent of PET plastic bottles were recycled, but we can do better with #1 plastic and all container materials so they don’t end up in the environment as litter. This is why we’re asking Manitobans around the province to recycle empty beverage containers every time.”

I must admit, I too have been going out for my daily walks with now 2 bags in my pockets, one for regular garbage and one for recyclables.  Each evening I have come home with full bags that go straight into the garbage and recycling bins. 

Since COVID most of us are back to receiving our purchased goods in plastic bags again so there’s no shortage of those in our cupboards.  What a great way to reuse (your plastic shopping bags), recycle (picked up plastic and aluminum bottles and cans) and reduce (your waistline!)  That hour of stretching and bending really helps!

The Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA) is a not-for-profit, industry-funded organization whose membership includes beverage brand owners and distributors. CBCRA implemented and operates the Recycle Everywhere program. Recycle Everywhere strives to educate Manitobans on beverage container recycling, and ensure that it is convenient to recycle empty beverage containers no matter where citizens live, work or play.

CBCRA is committed to reaching the government-mandated target of recovering 75% of beverage containers sold in Manitoba.

Learn more at www.recycleeverywhere.ca and www.cbcra-acrcb.org