NEW GLASGOW – Heather Bowling Lanes has got the ball rolling when it comes to effective waste management.
The staff has decided to join with fast-food restaurants in the county in having their staff take care of waste, organic and recyclable items rather than the customers.
“We noticed some customers were throwing coffee cups, pop cans and napkins in the garbage,” said assistant manager Laurel Goodwin. “People would look at the organic and waste signs and be completely confused.”
Now, over the past week, the Lanes’ has reduced the number of garbage bags they produce from eight to 10, down to two or three.
Before the new system, her staff would spend time sorting the trash trying to retrieve refundables such as pop cans and juice boxes.
When Goodwin saw the article about the new waste reduction program in The News on Jan. 9, she wanted to get on board.
“[Laurel and the staff] showed a lot of initiative,” said Susan MacDonald, educator with Pictou County Solid Waste.
MacDonald said Goodwin had a few questions regarding which waste items went where as the Lanes’ initiative was underway.
“I decided to stop by the Lanes myself,” said MacDonald. “When I got there, Goodwin presented me with a typed up and well organized list of items they deal with along with some questions.
“They’re going to make a good go of it, I’m sure.”
June Cameron of Three Brooks has been bowling at the alley every Wednesday for the past 10 years and believes the Lanes is heading in the right direction. “I think it’s a good thing for sure.”
“It’s not an inconvenience for the bowlers and customers,” she said. “If some places are having the staff sort the waste, other places should step up too like the Heather Lanes has.”
The Lanes’ first big test was the Annual Men’s Tournament, which features 16 men’s teams this past weekend.
“There’s usually a big mess of unsorted waste afterwards,” said Goodwin, “But we had no problems and everything went well.”
She says the change to sorting the waste themselves makes good business sense while helping the environment too.
“We figure it will be much better for us in the long run because of the cost savings,” said Goodwin. “We’ve had no problems so far and if we have questions, we give PCSW a call.”
