New Program Cleans The Environment While Helping Manitobans With Kidney Disease

October 7, 2008

The Manitoba government and the Kidney Foundation of Canada – Manitoba Branch have launched a free Home Appliance Retirement Program that will help fight kidney disease and protect the environment, Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau announced today.“The program is designed to accomplish two things – protect the environment and at the same time help in the fight against kidney disease,” said Rondeau. “Two benefits from a single program create a double-win situation for all Manitobans and especially people suffering with kidney disease.”

“This is a very timely program for the Kidney Foundation as Manitoba has the highest per capita rate of kidney disease in the country,” said Val Dunphy, executive director of the Kidney Foundation’s Manitoba Branch. “Kidney disease is growing at an alarming rate and the Kidney Foundation needs all the support it can get – both from the government and the public.”

Through the Home Appliance Retirement Program (HARP), Winnipeggers can permanently retire their unwanted, energy inefficient home appliances in a convenient and environmentally safe manner by simply calling the HARP Hotline at 257-1212.

Any major appliance – washers, dryers, fridges, stoves, even water heaters – qualifies for free pickup within Winnipeg. Once arrangements have been made, a representative of the Kidney Foundation will pick up the appliance and safely recycle it free of charge.

Money raised through HARP is used to assist Manitobans with kidney disease and to fund kidney disease and organ transplant research.

HARP is supported by the province’s Green Manitoba initiative. Green Manitoba is a provincial agency that develops and implements key programs that foster environmental innovation and community development, as outlined in the provincial government’s Green and Growing strategy document. The agency promotes community-based approaches to energy efficiency, water conservation and waste minimization.

HARP is the second environmentally friendly fundraising program managed by the Kidney Foundation; it also operates the successful Kidney Car donation program.

More information on HARP is available from the Kidney Foundation of Canada – Manitoba Branch at 204-989-0808.

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The government of Manitoba is distributing this news release on behalf of the Manitoba government and the Kidney Foundation of Canada.