Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Lauren Kelly, News Editor Mi news@theotherpress.ca (¥Y Douglas Students’ Union surpasses Nepal fundraising goal (Y Site C Dam moves forward amid controversy (Y Targeted shooting in Coquitlam Centre parking lot And more! Vancouver Transportation and Transit referendum draws to aclose » Half-year of campaigning over Mercedes Deutscher Staff Reporter he Transportation and Transit Referendum has drawn to a close after nearly six months of campaigning. During the final week of the referendum, both supporters of the “Yes” side and the “No” side pleaded for undecided and late voters to vote. The Mayors Council have been urging voters to vote “Yes” for a 0.5 per cent increase to the PST, which would be allocated towards funding the Mayors’ Council’s transit plan; a plan that involves expanding SkyTrain lines in Vancouver, building light-rail routes in Patullo Bridge, and expanding TransLink’s network of busses over the next 25 years. “No” side, such as the Canadian Tax Federation and Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read, suggested that voters reject the new tax. “There needs to bea governance change and the : province needs to be strongly : brought to the table to have a : conversation about that because, : before that happens, I think : it’s really hard to get anybody : to commit to spending more money,” Read said to CBC. In addition to the pleas of : both sides, Metro Vancouver : residents received yet another : reason to vote. On May 22, the SkyTrain : Expo line experienced a : shutdown after a bird’s nest : caught fire on the track during : morning peak hours, leaving : commuters stranded and late : for school, work, and other ? commitments. David Moscrop, a University : of British Columbia (UBC) : political scientist, suggested that Surrey and Langley, replacing the a SkyTrain shutdown due toa : bird’s nest may speak as loudly as : acampaign, and may have served : as an additional motivation for Meanwhile, supporters of the people to vote. « The service is poor, I just : had a massively inconvenient : interruption, we need better : transit, I'm going to vote, and : I’m going to vote Yes’—or “These : people are incompetent, nothing : [dois going to fix that, they’ve : ruined my day, I’m going to vote : No,” Moscrop hypothesized to : CBC. Voter turnout was counted at : 44 per cent prior to the final day : of the voting period. Belcarra and : North Vancouver had the highest : turnout of voters, with a 57.5 and : 50.5 per cent turnout respectively. : : Surrey and Vancouver Electoral : Area A (which includes UBC) : have had the lowest voter turnout : with 39.5 and 38.9 per cent : respectively. The turnout rates : will have likely surged in the final days of the referendum. As of this publishing, the : results of the referendum have > not been released. Metro Vancouver introduces “Love Food, Hate Waste” program » Analysis of food waste bins show tens of thousands of wasted food items each day Lauren Kelly News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca etro Vancouver has launched a new food waste campaign called “Love Food, Hate Waste,” in response to large amounts of still edible food being deposited into food waste bins. The program began in the UK and cut down food waste 21 per cent over five years. Metro Vancouver's food waste program has been a success, with most people now throwing their food waste into designated bins instead of the general garbage. However, the contents of the food waste bins were surprising, with over half : of the contents being edible : food instead of mostly scraps. According to statistics : offered by the website, Metro : Vancouver as a whole throws : out 70,000 glasses of milk, : 26,000 bananas, 80,000 : potatoes, and 55,000 apples : each day. This waste is costing the average family $700 a year. The campaign’s website has sections that offer recipes, food : storage guides and a place for : people to share creative tips for : not wasting food. The recipes section : contains solitary recipes as well : as meal sets, which provide : five dinner recipes for the week : and a total shopping list for all : five. The recipes, for food such : as Mediterranean couscous : and parmesan chicken, allow : users to enter how many adults : and children the meal is for, : changing the recipe portions : automatically and reducing leftovers. : The food storage section : gives information about best- : before guidelines, as wellasthe : : shelf life of common foods after : : their best before date. On top of ! : this, freezer and shelf guides, as : : well as general tips are included : : to help prolong the life of food : and not have it thrown away : early. The “Your Ideas” section : allows users to share their own : innovations for avoiding food waste. In one example of a user submitted tip, Julie D from Coquitlam offers this: “Fresh strawberries mould quickly. : Add vinegar to a bowl of water : and rinse your strawberries. : The vinegar kills the bacteria. : Dry with paper towels and store : in the fridge. They will keep several days longer.” The Metro Vancouver : communications division Image from Thinkstock : manager David Hocking told : Consumer Grocer that their : goal was to “reduce garbage : 10 per cent per capita by : 2020,” which includes putting : a large dent into the food waste that makes up 35 per cent of our garbage. If Metro : Vancouverites take advantage : of this wealth of information, that goal may be achievable.