Project Boomerang
Organization profile published 1977

Publisher:  c/o Pollution Probe, Canada
Year Published:  1977
Resource Type:  Organization
Cx Number:  CX471

For the past five years, Pollution Probe (Toronto) has been researching and lobbying around the problem of solving the solid waste problem.

Abstract: 
For the past five years, Pollution Probe (Toronto) has been researching and lobbying around the problem of solving the solid waste problem. Recently it initiated a mass scale consumer action campaign involving the returning (boomerang) to the manufacturer of unnecessary packaging. Fully 43% of domestic solid waste is packaging material. An assault on the environment, packaging burdens the corporate wallet as well as the consumer who pays both at the point of purchase and disposal. The packaging problem is widely recognized but the government refuses to intervene; corporations with money tied up in distinctive packages claim they are responding to the demands of consumers; consumers say they have no choice. Probe believes that if consumers on a mass scale send back over-packaging, there will be a corporate response.

The public can participate in the Boomerang Campaign by picking a product that is superfluous or overpackaged. Next the package can be mailed to the company president with a letter enclosed protesting the overpackaging and stating how and why the president should do something about it. It is important also to solicit a response. Participants should encourage friends and associates to get involved since the project can only be effective on a mass scale. Probe also suggests methods of shopping that would be conducive to the goals of this campaign. Pollution Probe is interested in the results of the campaign as well as in providing further information.