We live in the information age. Amidst all the streams, blogs, clicking and scrolling, we might find ourselves inundated with facts but not absorbing many.
There is no lack of data in the world of waste reduction. Knowing what steps we can take within our sphere of influence can sometimes feel overwhelming. Rather than sift through the weeds to find the jewels, we’d like to do that for you and share some of the good news stories going on in the qathet region that you can tap into.
You might know by now that much of any household’s waste is compostable (40 per cent in fact), so that’s a great place to start any journey to zero waste.
Locals can take advantage of the free drop-offs for organics. Town Centre Recycling Depot receives kitchen waste six days a week in amounts up to 20 pounds or 50 litres. Please freeze more odourous material beforehand. Learn what goes in and what stays out at LetsTalkTrash.ca.
Yard and garden waste can be taken to Sunshine Disposal (4484 Franklin Avenue) on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 10 am and 4 pm in loads up to two yards for free composting.
Set invasive plants aside and bring them to the same location during the month of May for qathet Regional District’s free Invasive Plant Drop Off event. Come summer, you can participate in the Skookum Food Provisioners’ Cooperative fruit gleaning program, even if you don’t have any trees yourself. Pickers are rewarded with a portion of the bounty.
Recyclables make up about 20 per cent of residential waste, so that is a good place to take action as well. Fortunately, in BC we have more than 22 recycling programs available to us, which industry pays for and eco-fees and municipalities also fund.
Beyond the regular curbside items of paper and containers made from paper, plastic or metal, recycling depots also take glass containers, foam, flexible plastics (ie: bags, most snack food packaging), light bulbs, pens, household batteries and natural cork.
In addition, there is a host of other materials accepted for free disposal at various other venues, including electronics, large and small appliances, paint, thermostats, beverage containers, outdoor power equipment, tires, ocean plastic and more. Learn where to take these in the Waste Wise Guide online or through the qathet Waste Wise app. Clean, reusable glass containers are also appreciated at the local organics bulk food store, Ecossentials.
If you are hosting an event and would like to keep waste sorted and not rely on single-use dishware, contact the Let’s Talk Trash team to borrow Zero Waste Sorting Stations and community dish supply. These are a free community asset and simply require a deposit fee which is refunded upon return of materials.
There are a myriad of ways to go zero waste while making zero impact on your wallet. Take advantage of these local resources to lighten your load on the planet.
Let’s Talk Trash is contracted by qathet Regional District to deliver its waste reduction education program. For more information, email [email protected] or go to LetsTalkTrash.ca.
