Bell Aliant keeps momentum rolling during Waste Reduction Week
Oct 20, 2011
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Bell Aliant returned 4,960 FibreOP reels for reuse in 2010 (CNW Group/BELL ALIANT |
• Returned 4,960 FibreOP™ reels for reuse in 2010
• Recovered more than 550 tonnes of copper cable, e-waste, and lead acid and gel cell batteries for recycling in 2010
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 11 per cent since 2007
HALIFAX, Oct. 20, 2011 /CNW/ - Bell Aliant is getting ready to ship back another 300 FibreOP™ reels for reuse, continuing the positive trend of 20 tractor trailer loads of reels diverted from landfills in 2010. This initiative is just one of many included in Bell Aliant's Corporate Responsibility report, Inspiring Change, released today.
Bell Aliant's FibreOP rollout is providing new opportunities for environmental stewardship. When its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network build started, there were no reuse or recycling options available for the plastic and composite reels used to ship the fibre optic cable. Bell Aliant worked with its suppliers to develop a take-back program, which, in 2010, diverted nearly 5,000 reels away from landfills.
Bell Aliant has also worked to have individually packaged components for its FTTH network bulk shipped, eliminating large quantities of cardboard and plastic packaging and allowing each truckload to carry 25 per cent more components.
Fibre optic cable uses 100,000 times fewer natural resources than copper to transmit an equal amount of data. It is also more resilient than a copper-based network, so trucks and equipment are dispatched less often for service calls, reducing fuel consumption.
"For us, corporate responsibility is about leading by example and making a positive difference in the communities where we work, live and serve our customers," said Glen LeBlanc, chief financial officer of Bell Aliant and leader of the company's Environment Council. "It's also about finding innovative solutions and balancing the economic, social and environmental effects of our decisions, so we are sustainable well into the future."
Inspiring Change outlines many of the company's social, economic and environmental commitments and achievements. Additional waste reduction highlights include:
- The recovery of more than 550 tonnes of copper cable, e-waste, and lead acid and gel cell batteries for recycling
- Expanding and enhancing its office recycling programs and phasing out bottled water and coolers
- An 11 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2007, with the goal of reducing total greenhouse gas emissions to 50 per cent below 2007 levels by the end of 2020.
A full copy of the Bell Aliant Corporate Responsibility Report is available as an e-book at http://bellaliant.ca.
About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant (TSX: BA) is one of North America's largest regional communications providers and the first company in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology with its FibreOP™ services. Through its operating entities it serves customers in six Canadian provinces with innovative information, communication and technology services including voice, data, Internet, video and value-added business solutions. Bell Aliant's employees deliver the highest quality of customer service, choice and convenience.
Image with caption: "Bell Aliant returned 4,960 FibreOP reels for reuse in 2010 (CNW Group/BELL ALIANT INC.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111020_C5892_PHOTO_EN_5113.jpg
For further information:
Sarah Levy
Bell Aliant Corporate Affairs
(855) 487-5026
sarah.levy@bellaliant.ca