Helping People and the Planet one Container at a Time

Starting this summer, The Salvation Army Ontario Division’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) will be doing their part for the planet.

Each of the 23 EDS trucks and trailers across the province are to be outfitted with environmentally friendly and biodegradable serving dishes and cutlery to reduce the amount of waste being produced.

“We’re looking forward to playing a big part within Territorial Headquarters standards by making the world better by using ecofriendly and biodegradable products that will not fill our landfills,” said Dan Millar, Divisional Director of Community Partnerships and Emergency Disaster Services for The Salvation Army Ontario Division.

Each year across Ontario, EDS hands out more than 100,000 clamshell containers, lids, cups and cutlery to disaster survivors and emergency first responders.

“There will be no styrofoam going into any truck in Ontario. Everything is 100 per cent biodegradable and made of recyclable materials,” Millar said.

With that amount of material being used every year, The Salvation Army is committed to doing its part to lessen their environmental footprint, while still supporting people with hope, and a warm meal or cup of coffee.

Millar said the rollout of eco-friendly products to all EDS vehicles across the province will be completed by the end of May.

EDS is also looking at sourcing eco-friendly water bottles made from recyclable materials once their current supply of water is exhausted. Thousands of plastic water bottles are handed out during heat alerts in the province with the goal of reducing the use of single serve bottles.

By Chris McGregor