Highschool Fashionistas!

Trenton, ON – Art students from St. Paul’s Catholic Secondary School in Trenton demonstrated that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure with their 10th annual Haute Couture fashion show on the 12th of November.

The theme for this year’s show was "Anything Recyclable". Students from St. Paul’s graduating grade 12 Art class could use any recyclable materials at their disposal. Some outfits were made using film plastic grocery or newspaper bags, boxboard packaging from various brands of soft drinks and just about anything else you would find in your blue box.

Katrien Reed, the Visual Arts Coordinator at St. Paul’s, said "This year’s turnout was a huge success, and drew more than 150 people". The price to attend was $5.00 with all proceeds going to the St. Paul’s Catholic School Art Department. Funds will be used to help finance an opportunity for students to work with well known artist and Professor of the Fine Arts Program at Queen’s University, Otis Tamasauskas.

"The fashion show, which is really a show of wearable art, is always met with great enthusiasm and support. Prizes are given for Most Wearable, Most Haute Couture and Most Unique", explains Katrien. "Students had to do research and ensure that their materials were completely recyclable. We had dresses made from plastic bags, colourful cardboard boxes, pop tabs, bread tabs... You name it!" ,adds Katrien.

Prizes were awarded to Jordan Reilly for Most Wearable, Emily Gebhardt for Most Haute Couture and Holly Young for Most Unique.
Congratulations to all those involved in this awareness raising project. Can’t wait to see what next year’s event has in store!

Blue Box Exchange Day 2009

Trenton, ON – The sun was shining on Quinte Waste Solutions’ 1 Day Waste Reduction Event which was held
this past Sunday May 3rd, 2009. Quinte residents came out in numbers to purchase rain barrels, blue boxes and composters, all in an effort to reduce their environmental footprint.
“This year brought even more people than last,” says Jeanne Vilneff of Quinte Waste Solutions. “With the increased awareness of the state of the environment, people are making positive changes in their lives, especially in the areas of waste reduction”.
Norseman Plastics was also on location and sold a little more than 800 Systern Rain Barrels.
With a capacity of 208L, these rain barrels will amount to a lot of savings when it comes to our municipal water consumption, not to mention the potential 40% savings annually on personal utility bills.
The event brought the familiar sounds of musical talents Andy Forgie and the Whystle Dawgs as they “busked” for “Change for the Environment”, a not-for-profit group dedicated to improving our air quality through the planting of trees as well as contributions to the Ontario Lung Association.

Quinte and area residents were serenaded by the Whystle Dawgs’ traditional roots music while they exchanged their broken blue boxes and shopped around for the various products Quinte Waste Solutions sells at cost.
Recognizing the demand for Systern Rain Barrels throughout the area, Quinte Waste Solutions will be carrying a limited supply for those who did not have a chance to purchase one last weekend.