For a long time, commercial recycling was neither practical nor profitable. Corporations gave lip-service to environmental issues, and the government at various levels scrambled to legislate corporate environmental responsibility into law.

Unfortunately, as we all know, government intervention into the economy seldom produces the desired effect. "In fact, government policies tend to become like Zebra Mussels. Individually they are insignificant, but collectively they clog up the system."

That's certainly been the case when it comes to environmental legislation. And as noted in a recent international news report; Canada's environment, much like most developed nations, hasn't been getting any better.

The good news is that recycling is finally starting to make it on its own!

This is certainly the case with recycled paper, plastic, glass and even some industrial by-products.

If the government "stays out of it," it can be the same for the construction and renovation industry. Last year alone, our comparatively small company recycled over 4 million pounds of reused building materials.

In the past, the government heavily subsidized "not-for-profit" recycling of building materials.

Environment Canada recently acknowledged that government subsidies are not "the way to go." Hopefully, this means we can start flushing some more Zebra Mussels away to help unclog the system. Business and the environment will be all the better for it!