Couche-Tard convenience stores throw away thousands of bottles and cans that are always full. Some are still good for consumption. These containers are neither recycled nor donated to organizations.
If we know this, it is thanks to an investigation by the journalists of the Coops de l’information! We summarize it for you.
Sometimes the news is… in the trash!
During the winter, our journalist colleagues noticed that Couche-Tard convenience stores regularly threw away water bottles, soft drink cans and milk containers that were still full.
The journalists have given themselves the mission of following the course of a full bottle thrown in the garbage of Couche-Tard. Here is how they did their journalistic investigation.
First, they spotted two full bottles in the trash: chocolate milk and a Gatorade drink.
Then they inserted GPS chips into both bottles. These chips showed them precisely the movements and location of the containers.
The journalists noted that the bottles ended their way… at the incinerator, where waste is burned, and at the dump.
Among the products thrown away by Couche-Tard, journalists found a large quantity of still-new Perrier brand sparkling water cans.
They made a very revealing calculation. Perrier water, which comes from France, traveled more than 5000 kilometers to arrive at a convenience store near our home.
All this so that many cans will never be opened and end up in the landfill or the incinerator!
The drinks found in the bins were often expired. This means that the “best before” date had passed. But even when expired, these products were still recyclable… Except that to be able to recycle a bottle, it must first be emptied!
The survey tells us that employees do not take the time to empty the bottles to recycle them. They are thrown away, full of liquid, directly in the trash.
As you can imagine, this kind of gesture has an environmental impact. For example, when you recycle a metal can, it can be reused. It can even be used to make new cans. It saves a lot of energy and resources!
Reporters also found many containers of still-good milk in the trash.
A former employee told them that he had to get rid of milk that was still good, while several people in need lived near his convenience store.
However, several organizations that collect food for the poorest accept less fresh milk, even if it has been expired for a few days.
For example, the Food Banks of Quebec network uses milk up to seven days after the expiration date. Freeze it or use it in recipes.
Our colleagues from Coops de l’information asked to speak to Couche-Tard representatives to get their opinion. The company said by email that it complies with the law when it comes to recycling and waste.
Indeed, not recycling is not illegal, even for large companies.
On Earth Day, Melanie shows you how to cook fried rice and vegetable broth to avoid wasting food!
If you ever watch the birds in the trees, you’ve probably seen a black-capped chickadee. It is one of the kinds of birds that we see the most in Quebec, because this little bird has managed to adapt to our winters. We explain to you how the tit got there. You’ll see, it’s fascinating!
The black-capped chickadee is tiny: it weighs 10 grams, or about the weight of a felt-tip pen. In winter, she constantly goes back and forth to the feeder. For what ? Because she has to keep moving to keep her body warm. For the same reason, it eats seeds from morning to evening (or other plants, and sometimes insects).
To survive the long winter nights, the black-capped chickadee hides in the crack of a tree. Something incredible then happens: his body temperature drops by 10 degrees Celsius! This allows him to expend less energy. It conserves this precious energy to fly and, above all, to find food the next day.
In autumn, the tit prepares for winter. She starts hiding seeds in thousands of different places. And despite her tiny head, she will remember each of these hiding places. Impressive, isn’t it?
Another interesting point: the leg muscles of the chickadee. They are strong and developed in a way that allows him to be very comfortable hanging upside down. This is handy for catching bugs!
When breeding time comes, the female makes her nest in a rotten piece of wood. After laying her eggs, she incubates them for about 12 days. During this time, the male brings him food. Still nice! What’s less fun are the predators. For squirrels and raccoons, the chicks are a treat… Careful, the chickadees!
As you may know, there are many species of birds whose survival is threatened. Sometimes it is because of climate change, or because their environment has been destroyed. Fortunately, the tit is doing well. Its population even doubled between 1994 and 2014. Experts believe this is due to the large number of feeders. By the way, if you want to install a bird feeder near your house, all you have to do is put black sunflower seeds in it. You could quickly make some new winged friends!
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