Microplastics Exchange

2016, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

In 2017, Madeline Yeomans of Dr. E.P. Scarlett School in Calgary implemented her project southern alberta microplastics exchange student implementation “Microplastics, Macroproblem”. Madeline was concerned about the amount of microbeads and microplastics in consumer products and the impact this is having on our watershed.

In an effort to combat this issue, Madeline held a “Microplastics Exchange” and information session at her school. Madeline advertised this event through her school to inform fellow students and teachers that the exchange would be taking place. For a one week period, students were encouraged to bring in products containing microbeads to exchange them for microbead-free products and receive education regarding the harmful effect of microbeads on the local watershed.

Microbeads are commonly used as exfoliants in facial cleansers and other skin products, yet these minute pieces of plastic do not dissolve in the watershed. These beads move through waste water filtration systems and are ingested by a number of marine organisms.

The Microplastics Exchange event at Dr. E.P. Scarlett School was a huge success and more than one hundred products containing microbeads were exchanged for eco-friendly equivalents.

Green Cleaners

2016, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Madeline Mann from Miles Macdonell Collegiate in Winnipeg decided to improve the water quality in her community by convincing her school to change to more environmentally friendly cleaners.

“I live in the Cooks – Devils Creek watershed and I think the biggest problem this watershed faces right now is the fact that community that I live in has been on a boil water advisory since 2002.

The idea of switching out one of the school cleaning products with an environmentally friendly one is a simple way to reduce the amount of chemicals that our school is putting into our watershed. I have found the product I would want to switch it Green cleaners Manitoba student project with, I have done the necessary research and I have determined the cost and quantity that my school would need for cleaning. By changing into an eco-friendly product our watershed will benefit and the water quality will improve because there is less chemicals flowing into the watershed.”

Not only was Madeline successful, this was implemented in the whole school board and required no financial support from the contest.

Floating Away Eutrophication

2016, Virden, Manitoba, Canada

Laura Wallace noticed that her local lake, Oak Lake, “is a sad sight due to eutrophication. It has been coated with green sludge called algae- which has sent residents and vacationers running for the hills. Hiding among the green goop is blue green algae, which can be toxic to humans. Oak Lake, from time to time, has had to close the beach due to health concerns.”

Clearly, it was time for a change, and Laura had an innovative idea: to build a floating cattail pond called a bio-platform to absorb phosphorus and other nutrients in the water, leading to less algae and safer water. In partnership with her local Conservation District and thanks to a contribution from Nutrien, Laura has been hard at work building her bio-platform, which will be launched at the local beach. As Laura shared, “the small changes I hope to achieve could lead to long term success, and I think many Oak Lake residents and animals will be thankful and supportive of my effort to clean up their home.”

Underwater Cleanup

2016, Falcon Lake, Manitoba, Canada

Because Delaney Rosentreter from Westwood Collegiate is passionate about both diving and clean water for the environment, she organized an underwater cleanup at the Falcon Lake Marina. This implementation was done in partnership with Diver City Scuba and the Falcon Lake Marina.

“There are many environmental benefits to my
underwater cleanup project. Benefits include cleaner water for the lake, marine life, and the ecosystem in general. This simple yet environmentally changing project is easy for anyone to get involved around the underwater cleanup project implemented in manitoba community. The marine life will have more areas to lay eggs, less debris on the lake floor, and have more plant life for the fish to feed on.”

Close to 20 divers participated in the cleanup. Although the water was murky, several objects were found including a drone! Following the dive, the divers were provided with a BBQ lunch and hot beverages to warm up.

Cigarette Disposal

2016, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

“The number one most littered item in Canada and worldwide are cigarette butts,” wrote Garden
City student Sheree. “People are simply unaware of the environmental impacts cigarettes have, or believe that because there is already litter on the ground, it would not make a difference if they followed suit. “ These cigarette butts end up in our water where they leach out chemicals and pose a hazard to wildlife mistaking the trash for food. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, Sheree discovered “cigarette butts are made of cellulose acetate, a non- biodegradable plastic, which can take up to 25 years to decompose.”
Her solution was simple- to purchase cigarette receptacles to place at two hot spots on school property so that cigarette butts could be disposed of properly. Thanks to a contribution from Nutrien Sheree was able to do just that!

RAIN BARREL IMPLEMENTATION

2015, CINCINNATI, OH, UNITED STATES
RAIN BARREL IMPLEMENTATION
Every year, the lower Mill Creek overflows by several billion gallons due to trash, oil, debris, and other harmful substances, resulting in the Metropolitan Sewer District to require a solution. Aleeyah Nurredin of Mount Notre Dame High School heard about the push to reduce overflow by two billion gallons by the end of 2016, and thought of a potential solution in rain barrels. The barrels would be transported around Cincinnati schools for competitions in rain barrel design, ultimately going home to collect water in the neighborhoods to benefit the community.

Since Stormwater can be used to water plants, collection in rain barrels would divert from the Mill Creek and prevent overflow. Aleeyah held an event in Amberley Village where individuals could collect their own rain barrel. Then, a competition was held where younger children could decorate their barrel to demonstrate their love for the environment. By raising awareness and promoting the reuse of storm water, Amberley Village is on the track to continue to improve the wellbeing of the Mill Creek!

Reusable Water Bottles

2015 Sacramento, California, USA

Justin Yu and Kieran Garcia from The MET Sacramento were concerned with excessive plastic water bottle use by the student body at their school. They recognized that even know these bottles are recyclable, that many end up in the trash and thus landfill—or even littered around school and the community. They also learned that some of the water used in plastic bottles was not necessarily from sustainable water sources or, in some cases, not different from tap water. They wanted to provide students with an easy alternative to plastic bottle use by providing reusable bottles to their classmates, and by delivering a PSA-like presentation to classes to encourage daily use.

With the help of Caring for Our Watersheds project funds, Justin and Kieran purchased reusable bottles and prepared a presentation for their classmates on the negative effects plastic water bottles have on the environment, the benefits of reusable bottles, and other simple ways to practice sustainability in one’s daily life. They were able to distribute the bottles to their advisory class as well as raffle them off to other students that attended their presentation.

The Paper Waste Crisis

2015 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Dr. Bajaj’s grade 8 science classes discovered how they could make their classroom more environmentally friendly. The students proposed using technology to help reduce paper use in the classroom.

“One problem our environment encounters is the pollution of paper waste. The papers we use in school and offices harm the environment. With all the ink and chemicals that are stained onto the papers, it too, poisons watersheds when not recycled or thrown away properly. Paper costs money and money comes from trees. One day, we will all be in danger when we overuse trees to harm nature as well as polluting air with the smoke that is released from paper factories.”

Thanks to a contribution from Nutrien, a document viewer was bought for the science classroom eliminating the need for so many student handouts. The document viewer is also interactive, and allows for students to get up close with nature- under the camera and in their classroom!

Medications, I Don’t Flush!

2015 Crystal City, Manitoba, Canada

Keeping our drinking water clean is important to Taylor Mutch. Taylor felt that more people in her community needed to be aware of a common problem facing our water systems: un-used and expired medications. Most people flush those down the toilet, but Taylor knew there was a better way to dispose of medication. She proposed working with her local pharmacy to create an information sheet to increase awareness.

“At the pharmacy, the pharmacist will safely dispose of the medication. Any medication can be returned to the pharmacy, including anything from doctor prescribed medication to over- the-counter medication like Advil and Tylenol. Hopefully, with people educated by my information sheet, they will stop throwing away or flushing their excess and expired medications. Then this will impact my community and watershed because there will be less harmful chemicals in the water.”

Thanks to a contribution from Nutrien, Taylor was able to create a brochure informing local citizens of the proper way to dispose medication, and why this is important. The pharmacy will be adding these information sheets to the prescription orders to help raise awareness, one person at a time!

Looking Good, It Just Might Kill You

2015 Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada

Angelica Soares noticed the nail polish used in her high school’s Cosmetology Department was full of chemicals that were ultimately making their way into the watershed. Angelica’s proposal was simple: switch to a formula with less chemicals, and educate people so that they consider how the products they are using for beauty aren’t so beautiful for the environment.

“Every time someone gets a manicure and/or pedicure, the nail polishes used are removed then disposed in a garbage bag. That garbage is then transported to the local dump where it sits, allowing the chemicals in the polish to secrete into the ground, which leads into our waterways.”

Thanks to a donation from Nutrien, Angelica was able to purchase new, 5-chemical free (toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, and camphor) for her school’s Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser- demonstrating the important link between human and environmental health. The Costemology department is currently using the leftover polish; Angelica also created brochures educating clients on these chemicals and the importance of Caring for Our Watersheds.