Yesterday, May 30 /2007, was the second Zero Waste Challenge Workshop provided by the GVRD. It was a follow-up session from the first one held in November 2006, during which ideas, possibilities and information was gathered. The emergent outcome of this initial meeting were five points of action to achieve zero waste:
1. Compost food and organic waste
2. Educate the public and promote services
3. Manufacturer's responsibility for the life end of their products
4. Government Action
5. Study and learn about waste management programs throughout the world
Naturally, yesterday's discussion was a culmination of the resulting efforts from the first. The GVRD's director Marvin Hunt, together with San Francisco's Zero Waste Environmental Coordinator, Jack Macy, presented the audience with an aggressive plan to combat waste and greenhouse gas. Included are goals to start by minimizing waste generation and maximize reuse, recycling, and energy recovery, with the only byproduct being job creation through spinoff businesses and services. The San Francisco state's waste goals are to achieve 75% reduction by 2010 and ultimately 0% by 2020. So far, they are well on their way. Residences and businesses are supplied with three bins, blue (all recyclables), green (organic waste) and black (everything else). Businesses are also given small combo bins for offices with the garbage bin being the smallest. The only bin that costs any money is the ominous black bin which is available in different sizes for varying prices. Near expired food is collected for food banks and anything unusable is then processed into farm animal feed. Food waste is dumped at a station where it is composted in odour sealed bags and then sold to farmers as rich fertilizer. There is much more going on and it is so amazing an inspiring to be living in this time of transition. I feel extremely lucky and happy to be a part history where man learned to change and live in harmony with mother nature and her cohabitants. Once all these systems and programs are in place however, it is up to us ("if you build it they will come"). Our current recycling program is, for the most part, pretty convenient for most of us, yet many individuals and corporations still don't. Why? Laziness? Lack of eduction? Lack of incentive? Thankfully, tackling this issue is on the list for the GVRD. Thank-you GVRD for all your efforts.
Let's show our appreciation for all their hard work at keeping our world clean. Think about that item in your hand before you casually toss it in your garbage and out of your mind. Do you really need to throw it away? Can you save it in a recycling box to take back to manufacturer or depot? Maybe a school could use it for art projects? Or maybe it can be donated to a shelter or food bank? You would be surprised at what can be used. Look at the GVRD's 101 things to do with your old stuff listed on their website :
www.gvrd.bc.ca
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