The Holiday Waste Reduction Campaign of Metro Vancouver
As many of you who read my blog and who have known me for a long while, the research study area with which I began my academic work was solid waste. I taught a Masters-level course in Waste Policy and Management, and one of my favorite sub-topics was landfill management.
Credit: D'Arcy Norman
I have been following the Metro Vancouver Solid Waste Strategy development (the Zero Waste Challenge) for a couple of years now (and yes, there is a lot of controversy around it, and the possibility of building a waste-to-energy facility). I will not address the controversy on this post, but I’ll just mention their holiday waste reduction campaign (which I learned about from Greg Valou, Communications Officer from Metro Vancouver).
Typically, Metro Vancouver has to deal with 5000 tons of extra waste during the holiday season. This fun video should give you more background and it is a good overview of the reduction campaign for Metro Vancouver over the holidays. Hope you enjoy it!
Related posts:
- Towards Zero Waste – Metro Vancouver Sustainability Breakfast Nov 4th
- Metro Vancouver Regional Forums on Waste Management (Sep 15 and 16th)
- The Metro Vancouver Recycles campaign
- Waste Reduction Week Canada – Oct 19-25th, 2008
- Upcoming environmental events in April 2008 – Metro Vancouver
Wow! That was a brilliant demonstration. I’ve certainly never seen a Christmas tree made out of garbage.
It sure makes you think! I know I’m guilty of doing my part to fill those landfills.
If the city is serious about wanting to reduce waste, why don’t we have city-wide composting (like they do in Toronto)?
Thanks for posting, Raul
Beth — regional composting is currently in the works and is a major part of Metro’s new Solid Waste Management Plan.
We’re currently running a food scraps recycling pilot study in four communities around the region to help us design a region-wide program:
http://www.metrovancouver.org/foodrecycling/
Port Coquitlam recently launched its own composting program. Vancouver has announced plans to start its own food collection initiative.
@Greg – Thanks for your response! I can’t wait ’til this gets rolled out to all of Vancouver! My sister lives in Toronto and they’ve had it for awhile and I’ve been jealous!