Trash Talk: Innovative Approaches to Garbage and Recycling for Business

There's been a lot of talk of waste management and zero waste in the region, as Metro Vancouver updates the Solid Waste Plan that guides how the region deals with its garbage. Although we have one of the highest diversion rates in the country - diverting 55% of the garbage we produce to recycling or composting - this is a far cry from the target of 70% by 2015 and 100% (Zero Waste) eventually...

Source: Metro Vancouver

Small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) contribute significantly to the region's overall trash burden, and yet waste diversion systems and services are not typically well-suited to the needs and realities of smaller businesses. SME businesses need to get creative and collaborate to reduce waste and the greenhouse gas emissions from waste decomposition. This event will focus on how businesses can collaborate to work towards the 5 R's waste hierarchy of reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and manage residuals.

Source: Metro Vancouver

Join Us!

This event will introduce you to innovative ways to reduce, exchange and divert your business' waste. A short panel will be followed by dialogue on how small businesses can collaborate to reduce waste and how LoCo can support them.

Louise Schwarz of Recycling Alternative (RA), will share the results of RA's Zero Waste Pilot. The pilot has worked with a hotel, a restaurant and an office building since May 2009 to divert 100% of waste from our region's landfills. RA has offered businesses the systems and training to divert recyclables, compostables and electronics from their waste streams. Come and hear the learning from this exciting project by RA, a leader in the waste management industry and in green business practices. 

Toby Barrazzuol, Eclipse Awards and Chair of the Strathcona Business Improvement Association's (SBIA) Sustainability Committee, presents the work of the SBIA's Materials Exchange Network. The Network connects SBIA businesses to reuse materials, reduce waste, reduce costs, and recycle materials. Come and hear about their early successes and plans for expansion.

Lyn Ross, Metro Vancouver, will present Metro's newest waste reduction tool for business Metro Recycles.

BONUS: Unearthing the Electronics Graveyard.... 

We all have them. Old computers, monitors, laptops, scanners, peripherals (keyboards, mice), fax machines, modems, cell phones....drag them out of the electronics graveyard in your office and bring them down to donate/recycle with Free Geek Vancouver. Free Geek refurbishes and donates all they can, and recycles the rest. Win a prize for best piece of techno-trash. For a list of what's accepted and NOT at this event, please see: http//miniurl.org/mBU 

Appetizers will be provided. Cash bar.

Presented in cooperation with:

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Check out the podcast and presentations from our last event: http://vangogreen.com/2009/10/17/new-local-business-network/

Coming soon to www.locobc.com