LiveSmart BC Community Hero
LiveSmart BC Community Hero: Nina Rohrer
Nina Rohrer grew up where recycling was a way of life, and she’s determined to spread the green news throughout the Lakes District.
“In Burnaby, and in North Delta, we had the blue boxes and curbside service. I was surprised when I saw how little recycling was actually done in such a pristine, beautiful area.”
Rohrer washes all her plastics, tin cans, and glass containers, and about every two weeks, she takes a green garbage bag full of material to the waste transfer station on Babine Lake Road.
“I would like to do more cardboard, but every time I go out there, the cardboard bins are full to the top. I’ve only seen the cardboard bins empty three times.
"We have energy-efficient light bulbs. When the TV’s not on, we leave it unplugged, because otherwise, it still draws power. Same with the kids’ TVs and music systems. And, if my daughter’s not using her blow-dryer, I tell her to unplug it.”
She’s also got her kids trained, so that they come to her with questions as to what can be recycled, before throwing it out.
When Rohrer has family visit from down south, she has them take back bags of old clothes that can be reused, at a place in the Lower Mainland where she used to recycle her kids’ clothes.
“There’s also a re-use shed at the waste transfer station, which I think is a really great idea. We take books there - as well as clothes and other items - and the kids pick out books that will continue to be recycled. It’s almost like a library,” she enthused.
Rohrer is also trying to get her fellow employees at Bulkley Valley Credit Union onto the recycling bandwagon.
“They’re already doing pop cans and bottles. I’m trying to persuade them to recycle other items as well. It’s a work in progress.”
She’s even got a neighbour out by Rose Lake recycling.
“That’s my aim: one person at a time,” she laughed.
