By Pepper Parr

June 2^nd, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

There isn’t a day when we don’t hear or read something about the environment.  From a world perspective it is the most important issue on the table.

Climate change leads the list of issues and how we handle waste is probably the next on the list.

Climate change is going to take place when we, as individuals, change the way we do things.  Don’t let the car engine idle in cold weather and move to an electric vehicle.

Plastic waste is creating huge problems that we don’t have a handle on yet.

How we manage waste and the level of recycling is also very high on the list.

A poll done by a respected reliable public polling organization claims that 81% of people in Ontario want to be able to re-cycle–what – that number is up from 76% a year ago.

Environmental Defence, a not for profit organization that advocates on environmental issues said Ontarians want a deposit-return system for non-alcoholic beverage containers. The poll, conducted by Abacus Data, shows overwhelming public support for a better system to manage empties for drinks like pop, water and juice in the province.

The public has made its wishes known – the province hasn’t found a way to respond.

The recent announcement on plans to permit the sale of beer 24’s in convenience stores puts a different spin on how people will return their empty bottles.

That decision to sell beer at convenience stores will mean less beer being bought at the Beer stores which is expected to eventually mean fewer Beer Stores – the one place that  people took their empties.  If there are going to be fewer Beer Store location – well you can see the problem.

Environmental Defence has been on this story for years.

Environmental Defence said: “We appear to be at a point where more beer will be sold with fewer locations to return empty bottles.  There is a solution that has to be made at the provincial level.

Karen Wirsig, Plastics Program Manager with Environmental Defence

According to Karen Wirsig, Plastics Program Manager with Environmental Defence, “the beverage industry is poised to introduce a pop bottle “tax” in Ontario to handle empties from non-alcoholic beverages. Does that mean we’re getting a new-and-improved program that will boost collection, refill and recycling while cutting litter? The answer – so far – is no.

“The beverage industry appears to want to keep the same ineffective system that we have today – recycling bins – even though we have proven year after year that deposit-return systems work.”

People will return the empties – they just need a place to take them to.

She adds: “People in Ontario are used to returning beer, wine and liquor bottles. In 2021, we took back 1.3 billion alcohol containers, including more than 340 million refillable beer bottles – a whopping 98 per cent of all the refillable beer bottles sold that year.

Changing the proven success of a deposit-return system makes the system we currently rely on for pop, water, juice, milk and iced tea all the more outrageous. History has taught us that Ontario’s curbside Blue Box program, with complementary recycling bins in parks and along sidewalks, is not as good as deposit-return for ensuring collection, reuse and recycling.

We know what the problem is – and we know what the possible solutions are – getting the government and the vested interest to listen is where the challenge lays.

More on that tomorrow.

By Catalin Constantin

June 3rd, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

The Ultimate Power Up Roulette Review: Features, Gameplay and Verdict

A classic casino table game.

Power Up Roulette is a game from Pragmatic Play that has proven to be a popular variant of the classic casino table game in recent years. It’s a game that has helped to transform the entertainment that players can obtain from roulette, through the usage of special unique features that can be triggered when played.

Gamers have continued to seek alternative options to help enhance their passion for this title, and this version certainly adds a spark to the gameplay.

Power Up Roulette: Features

Power Up Roulette provides players with several different features that have helped to increase its popularity amongst the gaming community.

Its main features relate to the Power Up feature, with this being crucial to helping players to win the biggest prizes possible. This can be up to a maximum of 8,000x the bet! This figure is one of the highest that is available in an online roulette-based game, thus helping to increase its popularity even further as a go-to option for many.

Where the ball lands is what roulette is all about.

The Power Up feature works through a randomization process. At the beginning of the round, between three and five numbers will be selected to be Power Up numbers. If one of them is landed on, the bonus round will then be triggered. This doesn’t need to be one of the numbers that have been bet on, but straight-up bets do need to have been placed. During the feature, players will notice that multipliers will then be assigned to the grid numbers. They will range from between 50x and 500x in the first instance, before increasing with each occurrence – the fifth time it is triggered, the bonus can be worth up to 8,000x!

To win from the PowerUp bonus, you’ll need to have an active bet on the winning outcome. If you don’t, then you won’t win the bet. Essentially, the feature just enhances the prizes that are on offer, but traditional gameplay rules are still required to be followed in this bonus round.

How to play Power Up Roulette

If you’re keen to give Power Up Roulette a spin, then you’ll want to use a casino that has it available as part of its library. Canadians are in luck, as they can head to Unibet and enjoy the game immediately once they have joined, as it’s one of the top variants that is being offered by the global operator.

To play the game, a basic roulette approach should be followed. All you need to do is to place bets on the numbers that you feel the ball could land, using the traditional wagers that are commonly placed in other forms of roulette, such as inside and outside bets.

Power Up Roulette is based on European Roulette, as it contains just one single zero, and not a double zero like its American counterpart. It’s also a game that is played in a physical capacity, with the live dealer being the one to spin the wheel and manually control it.

When it comes to placing bets, you have a 20-second period ahead of the wheel being spun to decide which numbers or wagers you want to consider. Once these bets have been decided, the Power Up feature will kick in and then the actual gameplay will take place.

It’s important to consider strategies when playing, as these can enhance the overall gameplay experience. Managing bankroll and perhaps considering straight-up bets instead of any other are perhaps among the best to think about, as these are the only bets that can trigger the Power Up bonus feature.

What’s the verdict of Power Up Roulette?

A classic casino table game now played on line.

Given the Power Up bonus feature and the fact that the win multiplier can climb to a height of 8,000x the bet, it’s no surprise that Power Up Roulette has become a popular online variant for enthusiasts of the classic casino table game.

However, is it better than other versions? It’s certainly in the conversation. The maximum win can make it one of the most rewarding for the lucky few who are able to predict the numbers accurately. But, perhaps most of all, it’s a version of roulette that can help enhance the excitement that this game can provide with each spin, as there are added layers of appeal to the basic gameplay that is traditionally enjoyed.