Personal Waste Reduction

In order to avoid our current waste problem from getting out of control we each need to think and act differently when it comes to waste production and disposal.

1. Reduce:   Reduction is the first and most important step in the process.  Think-twice about purchases, choose packaging-free items whenever possible and consider politely refusing single-use disposable items like trays and conventional to-go cups.
2. Re-use:  Re-use or donate items that are no-longer suited to their first purpose.
3. Re-cycle:  The single-most important thing to recycle likely isn't what first comes to mind... it's your food waste.  In Metro Vancouver, 41% of garbage from single-family homes was recently found to be made up of compostable organics.  Visit our Composting Page for more info.  Unsure how and what to Recycle in BC?  Visit RCBC's Recyclepedia for all your answers.
   

Are you inspired to reduce your waste but need some help?

Waste Reduction is a Hot Topic evidenced by the popularity of such films as No Impact Man.

Many of us understand the problem our waste, especially plastic waste, is posing and have committed to reducing our intake as much as possible.

Luckily we're not alone.  Local Waste Reduction Experts Taina Uitto and Deanna Roger prepared these general Waste Reduction Tips for SPEC:

Zero Waste tips pdf