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Category: Uncategorized

Waste Reduction Week 2020

Posted on October 20, 2020October 20, 2020 by zerowaste

Zero Waste Yukon is proud to participate in Waste Reduction Week in Canada. This annual event runs from October 19th to 25th. It celebrates environmental efforts and achievements in communities across Canada, including the Yukon, while encouraging new innovative ideas and solutions.

Waste Reduction Week is occurring at an exciting time for Yukon residents, following announcements from both the territorial and federal governments to ban various single-use disposable materials such as single-use plastic grocery bags. Zero Waste Yukon is excited to see governments listening to the many voices in the Yukon who have advocated for real action to reduce our reliance on disposable items that are a risk to the environment.

Zero Waste Yukon will be featuring individuals and local businesses that are local leaders in waste reduction and sustainability. Follow Zero Waste Yukon on social media throughout Waste Reduction Week to see who the business environmental leaders and innovators are in the Yukon.

Waste Reduction Week Schedule
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7th Annual Indoor Community Garage Sale + Repair Café

Posted on February 7, 2020February 7, 2020 by zerowaste

Registration is fully booked for the 2020 Indoor Community Garage Sale and Repair Café!! 

 

Event Details

 

When: February 8th, 2020
Where: Canada Games Centre Flexi-Hall
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

The 7th annual Indoor Community Garage Sale is a much anticipated community event, promoting reuse and the sharing economy in Yukon!

Not only is this a great opportunity to give your items a second life, it’s the perfect venue to raise funds for your organization or sports team, or to make some money doing some early spring cleaning!

Whether you participate as a vendor or a patron, you’ll be doing your part to keep useful materials out of the landfill and in circulation.

 

Registration Information

 

All tables are fully booked for this weekend’s sale, thank you for your interest!
Hundreds of attendees visit the Indoor Community Garage Sale each year to support reuse in our community.

 

Repair Café

 

Electronics Repair Café

We’re very excited to once again have Yukonstruct join us in hosting their Repair Café during the event. Repair Café Whitehorse has been helping fix broken stuff with monthly drop-in events at Yukonstruct since 2014. Broken toaster, vacuum cleaner or other small home appliance? Bring it in and see if it is fixable using soldering irons, multimeters and other tools. This easy introduction to electronics and small home appliance repair is a useful DIY learning experience that you can literally take home.

A happy Repair Café participant.

 

Computers for Schools Yukon will also be in attendance at this year’s Repair Café. If you’re having computer issues, bring in your laptop and consult the experts on how you might get your computer working better!

 

Textiles Repair Café

In addition to electronics repair, we will also have volunteers on hand to help you with basic clothing repairs!

We’ve lined up a number of expert volunteers who are keen to share their mending and sewing knowledge! Are you interested in repairing your own clothes? Want to give your favourite socks a new lease on life? Are you curious to learn more about sewing or stitching? If so, this Repair Café is for you!

Bring an item (or more) in need of repair and a desire to learn, and our experts will work with you to try and fix it up good as new! We’ll have a few sewing machines on hand for the bigger jobs, and the supplies you might need to make a simple repair to your ripped garments! This is a wonderful opportunity to improve or gain valuable skills that will help you lower the impact of your clothing and keep things wearable for years to come!

 

For more information on the Indoor Community Garage Sale, contact:

 

Ira Webb
Program Coordinator, Zero Waste Yukon
(867)-667-7269 ext. 27
info@zerowasteyukon.ca

 

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Create Memories, Not Garbage

Posted on November 29, 2019December 11, 2019 by zerowaste

Create Memories, Not Garbage

 

Once again we’re counting down the days with our Zero Waste holiday ideas! Here are 25 suggestions to reduce your holiday waste! Thanks to Metro Vancouver for the holiday imagery.

 

1: Secondhand: make the old new again
Thrift shops and other second-hand stores are a treasure trove for great gift ideas, and reuse is an effective way to make your gift giving sustainable. Just because something is used, doesn’t mean it won’t make a perfect gift for that special someone. Check out The Wish Factory, Whitehorse Community Thrift Store, Changing Gear, or other second-hand stores in your community for good quality used items and help break the stigma around second-hand stuff!

2. Transit Pass
A bus pass is a great Christmas gift and helps encourage alternative modes of transport!

3. Online news/magazine subscription
Does someone in your family subscribe to newspapers or magazines? Consider gifting them an online subscription to their favourite periodical! Going paperless saves trees and lets them access the latest articles right at their fingertips!

4. Adopt a species
Looking for a good gift for the nature lover in your family? Consider symbolically adopting an endangered species in their name! This is a perfect waste free gift that helps support organizations working to protect our wild species! Check out Nature Conservancy Canada for ideas!

5. Cloth Napkins
Cloth napkins are a lovely gift for the kitchen. They add a touch of fanciness to your dinners and help drastically cut down on single-use paper napkins.

6. Dance Lessons
Instead of dancing around store aisles looking for gifts, try a new activity with your partner and give the gift of dance lessons! Learning a new skill together is sure to bring you closer, and you might fall in love with a new dance style! Check out the Northern Lights School of Dance, Leaping Feats, or find a teacher in your community!

7. Creative wrapping
Traditional Christmas wrap is generally not recyclable due to the short fibres, inks and metals in the paper. Try out some creative or recycled alternatives like newspaper, brown paper, maps or textiles. Challenge yourself to wrap without tape to further reduce the material you use!

8. Herbs and spices
Live plants or a collection of dried spices is the perfect gift for the culinary folks in your family or friend group. Try roasting your own spice blend or giving a collection of bulk spices in reused jars!

9. Bike repair
Help the cyclist in your life get back on the road by giving them a repair or tune-up for Christmas. You’ll help them stay active and it supports emissions-free modes of transport!

10. Pool pass
A pass to the local pool is the perfect gift for those who love to swim, sauna or steam! Combine this gift with a new towel made of 100% cotton or other natural fibres if you like!

11. Growler fill
Draft beer is Zero Waste. Stop by Yukon Brewing or Winterlong and fill up a growler with your loved one’s favourite brew. They can reuse it over and over, a gift that keeps on giving!

12. Used books
Gather some previously read books from your collection or visit Well Read Books and pick up something for the literary types on your Christmas wish list. Passing on books is thoughtful and a great way to reduce waste. It also keeps them circulating so they can be read instead of just sitting on a shelf!

13. Clothing repair
Instead of shelling out for new clothes, give the gift of repair by fixing a loved one’s torn clothing, or bringing it to a repair shop in town! Renueva offers affordable alterations and mending services, and they also sell beautiful used clothing. Thrifting is the new shopping!

14. Give groceries
This year, instead of toys or video games, try giving food and drink. You can help cut down on a loved one’s grocery bill and giving food is a timeless tradition. Alternatively, if you can, consider a donation to the Whitehorse Food Bank in lieu of a material gift. You’ll be making someone else’s Christmas special as well as your own!

15. Get creative with your cards
Try reusing old cards from previous Christmases, or make your own with scrap paper! No need to buy new cards in plastic envelopes when you likely have all the things to make one at home already! If you’re buying cards, look for something made locally and with recycled paper.


16. Borrow from nature
Looking to decorate this year? Consider making natural decorations using spruce boughs, pine cones or other materials. They’ll add a nice aroma to the house, you can avoid plastic and you can compost everything when Christmas is over! 

17. Reusable straws
Know someone who loves to sip their drink from a straw? Why not get them a reusable straw that they can reuse forever? You can get glass, bamboo or metal straws at Riverside Grocery in Whitehorse, and you’ll be avoiding lots of plastic in the process!

18. Donate to charity
Stuck on what to get your friend or family member for Christmas? Why not make a charitable donation in their name to a local organization that could use some support? No materials necessary, and you can both feel good knowing you’ve done something to help those in need.

19. Handmade
Crafting a gift yourself will always be more meaningful than something store-bought. Try weaving, baking, or something totally new, and you’ll create a gift worth more than anything you can get in a shop!

20. Ski day
Head out for a day on the trails at Mt. McIntyre as a Christmas gift activity! You can rent any gear you don’t have, and can enjoy a day outside, without any waste!  

21. Write an IOU
Instead of a material gift, give an IOU for your services. It’s a fun way to give something meaningful without any of the waste. Offer to do someone’s chores for a week, or give an IOU good for one free massage, redeemable when they choose.

22. Home cooked gifts
Cookies, baked goods and other homemade creations are a great holiday treat and don’t require any excess packaging or wrapping! Instead of buying presents for friends, invite them over for a home cooked meal!

23. Go to a show
Experiential gifts are waste-free (especially if you walk or bike!). Consider buying tickets to concert or theatre performance as a Christmas gift. The experience you give will also provide the person receiving it with memories to cherish for years to come!

24. Buy local
There are many local businesses and craft fairs in Whitehorse and other Yukon communities. Visit these to find handcrafted local art, food and other gifts. You’ll be supporting local businesses and individuals, as well as eliminating the waste associated with importing goods from outside the territory.

25. No gifts!
Pose the idea to your family of not giving any gifts this year. Christmas should be about more than material goods, and a gift-free holiday means you can focus more on sharing time with those who matter most to you.

Happy holidays!

 

 

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Clayton Peacock

Posted on October 25, 2019October 25, 2019 by zerowaste
Clay Peacock in front of a pile of cured compost, ready for use. (Photo: Zero Waste Yukon)

 

If you’re familiar with the City of Whitehorse’s compost program, you may know that it’s come a long way in the last 6 years. One of the main reasons for the program’s success is Clay, the compost lead hand at the Whitehorse Waste Management Facility. With food waste a key theme for Waste Reduction Week, we thought we’d highlight the unsung hero turning Whitehorse’s organic waste into compost “black gold.“

“Things are going really well,” Clay tells me. “We’re breaking records every year.”

Most of that is large loads for gardeners and landscapers, but they have also been selling lots of bagged compost for smaller home gardens as well. It’s no surprise that the compost is popular, what could be better than getting a high quality product produced right in Whitehorse?

A close-up of the finished compost.

 

“You’d be hard pressed to find a better product in North America,” says Clay. “We take great pride in our work, and we’re constantly testing to ensure that what we produce is of the highest quality.”

There’s a reason why many refer to the compost produced here as “black gold.” The finished product is Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) certified for use in organic gardens & farms. They perform bio-assays every 50 cubic yards and test twice a year for hydrocarbons, herbicides and pesticides. The compost consistently has well over the required minimum 95% germination rate.

Clay says he’s disappointed to hear people mislabel the compost produced in Whitehorse as poor quality.

“Lots of what you buy in stores is produced in one place, but labelled in another, so it’s difficult to find out where the compost comes from or what’s in it. With our compost, you know exactly what you’re getting, a local product that’s supporting a local economy and not being shipped in or shipped out.”

Image result for whitehorse compostResidents can buy bagged compost from the Waste Management Facility, or arrange to buy bulk loads.

 

Clay’s passion for his work is evident, and it’s clear that this job has had a positive impact on his life. As we walk past the windrows, large piles in various stages of composting, he comments on the smell.

“That smell, that’s good compost. It makes me feel good. You can tell when things are going wrong or right, just by the smell.”

“I spent a lot of years in construction and mining, which can be really destructive industries,” Clay says. “Switching to this job was great, because I could still operate equipment, be outside, but now I’m giving back instead of taking away. I’ve helped transform this place, and it’s transformed me.”

“To be able to take something that people see as waste, and turn it into something they can use to grow food, to feed their families, is something really special. We’re taking over 40% of people’s waste and giving it back to them, what could be better than that?”

This is how items come into the facility, before they are piled into aerated windrows (Photo: Zero Waste Yukon)

 

The payoffs don’t come without a lot of hard work though. The Whitehorse compost facility is essentially run by two people. Particularly in the summer, when things are busier, they’re swamped trying to keep up with the workload.

“In some places, you might have a whole crew of people dedicated to just pulling garbage out of the compost,” he says. “If I had a crew of 7 people, this place would be like the Taj Mahal of compost!”

It’s two weeks of work to simply shift all the piles over, and with expansions planned for the compost facility, the team has been working even harder to get things ready.

A lot of local businesses are supportive of the City’s organics program, and working hard to ensure they’re composting properly. He points to Save-On-Foods as a good example. Since the beginning they’ve been taking their time, ensuring that plastics don’t end up in the organics bin. While others aren’t quite at that level, he says that slowly a lot of the stores are coming around. Fortunately, composting is now mandatory for the commercial sector, so the compost program will continue to grow.

Organics is the number one material landfilled in Whitehorse. This is a big problem, as landfilling organics creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

 

When I asked about contaminants in the compost system, Clay tells me that plastics are the number one. Plastic bags and cutlery are most common, and a lot of this material has to be filtered out of the finished product as it doesn’t compost.

“Biodegradable does not mean compostable,” stresses Clay. “Lots of these products are deceiving people, because they’ll say “made from plants” or “biodegradable” but they actually still contain plastic and won’t fully break down.”

He really encourages people to be aware of their purchases – certified compostable bags and cutlery will compost entirely in the system, but plastic bags and forks won’t.

 

Any compostable products you buy should have one of these two logos, confirming that the product has been tested for compostability.

 

“We still see tiny bits of plastic in the finished compost – that’s unavoidable. It’s not an issue for the compost quality, and there’s no danger of things leaching into your garden, the bigger concern is that with watering, the plastics rise, and either wash or blow away, into the sewers, into the river.”

It’s no surprise then that he brings his own bags to the grocery store. “When we forget our reusable bags, we’re carrying those groceries out in our arms,” he jokes.

Clay is unsure that a ban on plastics could happen, with the pressure of plastics industry influencing governments. “If it’s between doing the right thing and the dollars,” he says, “the dollars win out every time.” He isn’t wrong. There is tremendous industry influence on government action against plastics. In the United States, there are many states where the plastics industry has even successfully pushed for legislation which prohibits plastic bag bans.

A map of bag laws in the US shows the states with bag laws in place (blue) and states where these laws have been preempted with support of the plastics industry lobby (orange). (Photo: plasticbaglaws.org)

 

Our discussion turns to recycling and the myth that by simply putting things in our blue bins we’re doing the right thing.

“We recycle because we grow up being told it’s the right thing to do, but when our plastics are being shipped away to be burned, how is that right? There are no easy solutions, but we need to be honest with what’s happening.”

He’s right that there are no easy solutions. The systemic change required to reduce our societal impact on the planet is complicated and at times, overwhelming.

“I don’t know the answers,” says Clay, “but I know this is a good system.”

Judging by my garden’s response to his compost, I’d say he’s right.

 

 

Posted in Our Zero Heros, People, Uncategorized1 Comment on Clayton Peacock

Halloween Costume Swap!

Posted on October 24, 2019October 24, 2019 by zerowaste

Have you found your Halloween costume yet?

 

Do you have previous years’ Halloween costumes at home collecting dust?

 

Join Zero Waste Yukon at The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre on October 26 for a free second-hand costume swap! At this all ages event, you can swap your previously worn costume for another!

Want to donate a second-hand costume(s) to this event? You can drop off your clean used costumes at Raven Recycling or The Heart of Riverdale until October 25, or bring them with you to the event! We are aiming for a good selection of both adult and kids costumes, so any donations are greatly appreciated!

This is a great opportunity to participate in Waste Reduction Week!

Saturday’s theme is Swap, Share, Repair, so how better to participate than with a costume swap?! You will save money and unnecessary plastic, packaging, and production costs. You can also give your previous costumes a new life by donating them for someone else to use!

 

Event Details:

When: Saturday October 26 from 11 am to 3 pm

Where: The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre (38 Lewes Boulevard)

Snacks will be provided!

Be sure to also stick around for the Heart of Riverdale’s Haunted House, happening the afternoon of the 26th!

Contribute towards a greener community by swapping, not shopping! For more info, contact us at info@zerowasteyukon.ca or 667-7269 ext. 27

 

 

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Election candidates answer questions on waste issues

Posted on October 11, 2019October 16, 2019 by zerowaste

 

There is no shortage of important issues in the upcoming federal election. Climate change, housing, affordability and the economy are all top of mind for Yukoners as we approach October 21.

To provide some more information to voters, we asked the following three questions to federal election candidates:

Question 1. Waste diversion has stalled in the Yukon. If elected, what federal initiatives will you support to create meaningful increases in waste reduction and resource conservation?

Larry Bagnell, Liberal Party of Canada
View Response

Our government has worked hard to build a cleaner, brighter, and more prosperous future that will help Canadians save energy, reduce pollution, while still creating over 1 million new jobs.

One of the biggest ways that we have committed to reducing waste, is by working towards banning harmful single-use plastics and microbeads as early as 2021. Less than 10 per cent of plastic used in Canada gets recycled. Without a change in course, Canadians will throw away an estimated $11 billion worth of plastic materials each year by 2030. We’ve reached a defining moment, and this is a problem we simply can’t afford to ignore.  We put a price on pollution so it’s no longer free to pollute anywhere in Canada.

Jonas Smith, Conservative Party of Canada
View Response

Rather than waste diversion having stalled in the Yukon, it is my understanding that waste diversion has never been allowed to operate sustainably here in the territory and that individuals and municipal, territorial, and federal governments need to work both respectively and together to address this reality. From a federal perspective, if elected as the Yukon’s next Member of Parliament, some major issues to address and solve include:

  • – The federal government must act to mandate that all food-related packaging be either compostable or at minimum, a “better grade” of plastics (“better” being relative). Canada should ban the use of category 4 (e.g. plastic bags), 5, 6, and 7 plastics for category 1 (bottles) and 2 (HDPE) plastic packaging, both of which are more economically viable for recyclers to process as opposed to 4, 5, 6 and 7, which cost waste diversion suppliers, making sustainable waste diversion and recycling increasingly infeasible.
  • – Since the last federal election in 2016, Canada has been unsuccessful in upholding dozens of agreements with international trading partners, which has potentially resulted in a significant decrease in recycled products’ pricing across the board. A viable waste diversion and recycling industry here in the territory requires stability regarding products’ pricing structures.
  • – Currently, local waste diversion suppliers are working with 2019 costs for shipping and labour (to name only two examples of operating costs) that have doubled, tripled, or quadrupled in the last two decades, however, are working with ever-decreasing costs for processing waste diversion products (due to government funding not providing a cost of living increase).
  • – Fundamentally however, individuals must take personal responsibility for their consumption and begin with reduction and reuse to decrease recycling and diversion. The federal government, in partnership with other governments, can support and facilitate education and public awareness initiatives for Canadians and Yukoners to help with the critical need to increase personal waste reduction and subsequent diversion

A question we all need to ask ourselves is: what are we willing to sacrifice to reduce the burden we impose on the environment through our consumer culture?

Lenore Morris, Green Party of Canada
View Response

I would support the federal government legislating in the area of packaging – to reduce waste and conserve resources. Too much attention has been focused on the consumers of products, and their recycling efforts, and not enough attention focused on manufacturers and producers.

I would support implementing an extended producer responsibility program to hold manufacturers financially responsible for the waste associated with the production, distribution, packaging and end of life of their products. I would  also support banning some single use plastics.

Justin Lemphers, New Democratic Party of Canada
View Response

Canada is falling behind on reducing waste and phasing out single-use plastics. Plastic pollution has huge costs for our economy, our environment and our communities. To reduce waste in our landfills and communities, a New Democrat government will ban single-use plastics across Canada by 2022. We will develop legislation that holds companies responsible for the entire lifecycle of their plastics products and packaging. The Extended Producer Responsibility legislation will be enforceable and reduce clean-up costs for our communities. Polluters will pay, not consumers. This is all part of NDP’s comprehensive Waste Reduction Strategy.

We’ll help municipalities improve their waste management and recycling programs and work towards a zero-waste future. We will tackle our existing plastic pollution by working with provinces and territories, municipalities, and Indigenous governments to capture and recycle the single-use plastics already in our communities. In the past, New Democrats led the charge to ban microbeads and we were successful in passing a motion that demanded the government take action to reduce plastic pollution in our rivers, lakes, and oceans.

An NDP government, under our Waste Reduction Strategy will also:

  • – Declare single-use plastics, micro-plastics and micro-fibers as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
  • – Create plastic packaging reduction targets for sectors distributing or selling fresh and prepared foods.
  • – Invest in the development and deployment of technologies to help manufacturers transition away from harmful plastics – and work towards a circular economy and a zero-waste future.

 

We will work to connect communities to farmers through local food hubs and develop a national food waste strategy to reduce the huge amounts of food that currently goes to waste in Canada. We will also make sure vulnerable populations are not disadvantaged by our decisions. We will hold broad consultations with persons living with disabilities to ensure that accessibility issues are addressed (e.g. need straws to drink).

 

Question 2. Do you agree that our current linear economic model (take-make-dispose) is unsustainable? How can the federal government support the transition to a regenerative circular economy in Yukon?

Larry Bagnell, Liberal Party of Canada
View Response

One way to make the Yukon economy more regeneratively circular is to focus on local food production, to lower our import and packaging footprint. Over the last four years, the Liberal government has supported a number of local agriculture initiatives – including our support of $500,000.00 for the Tr’ondek Hwech’in Teaching and Working Farm. As well as the recently announced Local Food Infrastructure Fund, which will target groups of community, private, academic and other organizations that collectively have the mission to reduce food insecurity in a sustainable manner by strengthening or establishing a local food system.

Jonas Smith, Conservative Party of Canada
View Response

Yes, however, as I understand it, our current model is not yet one of take-make-dispose, rather somewhere between that and a Zero Waste model. A federal government, as waste diversion dollars are administered by the territorial government to municipalities in some cases, can, as above:
– Help support educational and public awareness initiatives to promote a less consumptive consumer culture by individuals.
– Mandate compostable packaging.
– Upgrade produce packaging to category 1 and 2 plastics.
– Support domestic markets from local food production to energy, to reduce Yukoners’ reliance on outside product sources.
– Reestablish strong relationships with our international trading partners to sustain viable recycled products’ pricing.

Lenore Morris, Green Party of Canada
View Response

I agree with this conclusion. The first Green Parties were founded by people who recognized the ecological unsustainability of the traditional economic model and also that none of the traditional political parties were interested in any other model. The Green Party of Canada currently includes the goal of working towards zero waste. The federal government can help in Yukon by legislating to:
– Require higher percentages of recycled plastic feedstock in durable plastic products.
– Require all products to be fully recyclable using readily available processes
– Limit the number of plastic types produced as disposable items or packaging.

Justin Lemphers, New Democratic Party of Canada
View Response

Yes, NDP agrees that the current linear consumer model is unsustainable and supports developing a regenerative circular economy in Canada and in Yukon. New Democrats will increase consumer protection and make sure Canadians have the right to repair electronic devices and other products at affordable prices, expanding consumer choice, and cutting down on waste.

Under our Waste Reduction Strategy, we’ll help municipalities improve their waste management and recycling programs and work towards a zero-waste future.

We’ll tackle our existing plastic pollution by working with provinces and territories, municipalities, and Indigenous governments to capture and recycle the single-use plastics already in our communities.

We’ll invest in the development and deployment of technologies to help manufacturers transition away from harmful plastics – and work towards a circular economy and a Zero Waste future.

Under our climate action plan called Power to Change, we’ll create a Clean Communities Fund to support investments in innovative community-owned and operated clean energy projects. Our plan will also expand the use of renewable gas produced by organic waste from farms, forests, landfills, and water treatment plants.

We will also create a centre of excellence for research and development of zero-emission vehicles, and support Canadian manufacturing of batteries, energy storage solutions and alternative fuels like biofuels made from waste.

We’ll work to connect Canadians to farmers with initiatives like local food hubs, community-supported agriculture, and networks to increase the amount of food that is sold, processed, and consumed in local and regional markets.

We will also support farms transitioning to organic and climate-resilient forms of food production using agroecological processes, implementing regenerative agricultural practices, and using sustainable, clean energy resources. We will promote farming land management techniques that increases carbon sequestration and reduces carbon emissions.

We’ll take a strategic, sector-specific approach that invests in innovation and R&D – with a particular focus on developing the technologies we need to thrive in a low-carbon future. NDP supports local people determining the solutions that work best for their situations. We support initiatives like the City of Whitehorse’ composting program. We also acknowledge the depth and breadth of northern innovation, exemplified by NorthLight Innovation, Northern Research Centre at Yukon University, and local businesses like Northerm Windows and Doors. All of these organizations are implementing local solutions that work for Yukoners and northerners. A New Democrat government will step up as a partner to foster entrepreneurship and support a Canadian start-up culture with a focus on helping Canadian companies in all regions of the country including in northern and rural communities.

 

Question 3. What actions would you prioritize to decrease Yukon’s GHG emissions?

Larry Bagnell, Liberal Party of Canada
View Response

The Liberal Party takes the reduction of GHGs very seriously. As a government we have been leading by example and will ensure all federal buildings run on clean electricity by 2022. Investing in renewables to get to 90% clean electricity by 2030.

We are also supporting Yukon’s transition to clean energy with projects like wind turbines in Kluane, solar farm in Old Crow, biofuel in Teslin and a storage battery at the Whitehorse dam. This will help lower the carbon waste of all projects across the territory.

We will help retrofit 1.5 million homes to help Canadians make their homes more energy efficient, and better protect them from climate-related risks by giving them up to $40k interest-free loans.

To make zero-emission vehicles a good solution, we will work with industry and communities to install up to 5,000 charging stations along the Trans Canada Highway, other road networks and in urban and rural areas.

We will plant to 2 billion trees as part of our plant to get Canada to net-zero emissions.

We’re also taking real climate action now by:
– Supporting over 1,200 public transit projects across the country
– Making zero-emission vehicles more affordable and accessible
– Phasing out coal by 2030

Jonas Smith, Conservative Party of Canada
View Response

As the Yukon’s Member of Parliament, I would work with, and on behalf of Yukoners to:
– Support the development of alternate energy solutions from more/smaller hydroelectric projects, that do not negatively impact Indigenous harvesting rights as well as support wind, solar, biomass and geothermal projects. I would advocate and work to fund these projects in partnership with Yukon First Nations governments, Yukon and the private sector.
– Champion and support the needs and priorities of Yukon residents, businesses and communities in Ottawa with my colleagues and the relevant Ministers responsible.
– Support local product development to reduce our reliance on products and services from beyond the territory that rely on transport up the highway and Inside Passage creating increased GHG emissions.
– Support a domestic responsible oil and gas industry in the Eagle Plains area.
– Support green home renovations through tax credits.
– Lead by example and teach my two daughters to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Lenore Morris, Green Party of Canada
View Response

To reduce Yukon’s GHG emissions, we need to do two things: get less of our energy from burning fossil fuels, e.g. gasoline and diesel, propane and LNG, and instead get that energy from electricity, and (2) produce more electricity from renewable sources.

An estimated 62% of Yukon’s GHG emissions are the result of transportation, therefore it makes sense to prioritize reductions in that sector. In Yukon that will mainly mean transitioning our vehicles from gas and diesel burning ones to vehicles powered by electricity. Short term this should be incentivized with rebates, long term it will likely need to be legislated.

There are also actions that can be taken by individuals to reduce their personal GHG emissions from transportation, without buying a new vehicle – including car pooling, ride sharing, driving less and even driving at lower speeds. All should be incentivized.

An estimated 18% of Yukon’s GHG emissions are from our buildings – in particular from heating our buildings. To reduce this, Yukoners should be switching from oil and propane furnace systems to electric. This is already happening to some extent, and most new buildings are heated with electricity.

New renewable sources of electricity will include hydro, in particular run of river, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass.

Justin Lemphers, New Democratic Party of Canada
View Response

NDP will cut greenhouse gas emissions to avoid global temperatures rising more than 1.5 degrees C by 2030. Our Power to Change climate action plan offers a multi-faceted approach to decreasing emissions and it commits to spending $15 billion over four years. Here’s our approach breakdown:

Approach: jump to renewable energy sources
The NDP want to make a historic jump to non-emitting energy. We will provide more funding for renewable energy projects while curtailing investment in the fossil fuel sector. We will:
– Create a new $3 billion Canadian Climate Bank to make big, meaningful investments in innovative clean energy projects.
– The Climate Bank could be used to inter-connect power grids between jurisdictions, like Yukon’s isolated-grid to BC’s network.
– Spur the transition to renewable energy, with an additional $3.5 billion leveraged through the Canadian Climate Bank.
– Move rural and northern communities off their diesel dependence as we work towards a net carbon-free electricity by 2030 and 100% non-emitting electricity by 2050.
– Enshrine environmental rights in law through an Environmental Bill of Rights. This bill also gives Canadians the rights to participate in decisions impacting their environment and to hold the government accountable.

Approach: reduce greenhouse gas emissions
To do this, we will look at changing how we get around:
– Make major investments in low carbon transportation infrastructure like public transit, rail and ferries.
– This includes electrifying public transit across the country by 2030.
– Put in place permanent funding for modern public transit across Canada and work with municipalities towards fare-free transit to ease commutes and make life more affordable.
– Push the auto industry to manufacture zero-emission vehicles in Canada.
– Stimulate demand by making it easier for families to afford a zero-emission vehicle right away be providing a $5,000 federal purchase incentive and waiving the federal sales tax.
– This incentive will grow over the next few years to $15,000 and be targeted to made-in-Canada vehicles only – giving manufacturers a powerful incentive to build zero-emission vehicles locally for the long term.
– This will help ensure good jobs building the vehicles of the future stay right here in Canada.
– Provide easier access to charging zero emission vehicles by helping families install charging stations at home and expanding charging station infrastructure across the country.
– Promote smart community planning and active transportation like walking and cycling for better commutes and healthier and more affordable choices.

We will also make buildings more energy efficient:
– Retrofit all housing stock in Canada by 2050,
– Provide low-interest loans repayable through energy savings to pay for home upgrades like insulation, windows, heat pumps, and other renewable technologies.
– This will create thousands of jobs in the skilled trades and supporting industries and save families on utility costs.

Approach: get off fossil fuels
Getting off our dependence of fossil fuels is critical in addressing climate change. We will:
– Continue with carbon pricing as it drives emission reductions at the source.
– End big breaks for big polluters, hold them accountable and make them pay for and cut their emissions.
– Eliminate fossil fuel subsidies and redirect these funds to low carbon initiatives such as renewable energy projects.
– Reform Export Development Canada’s mandate to focus on providing support for Canadian sustainable energy projects, rather than the petroleum industry.

Approach: conservation and protection measures
Nature, trees, sea beds, kelp groves, marshes, coral reefs, swamps, all offer a natural climate solution by removing carbon from the air and storing it. We will help heal our broken planet through conservation and protection measures:
– Preserve ecosystems and natural habitats by protecting at least 30% of our land, freshwater and oceans by 2030.
– Back those protections with funding and enforcement.
– Support the creation of Indigenous-managed protected areas to make sure that species recovery efforts uphold Indigenous rights and embrace traditional knowledge to increase biodiversity
– Develop a system of urban national park to support conservation and preserve our natural heritage by working with other levels of government.
– Develop a national approach to tree-planting using responsible reforestation to help lower our carbon footprint.
– Put $400 million to support conservation, waste reduction and protection of lands and water.

Approach: accountability
Canadians are tired of governments missing targets after targets. The NDP will legislate its science-based target and establish an independent Climate Accountability Office to do regular audits of progress towards our climate goals, with a budget to share information about the importance of climate action with Canadians. Our plan will use the powers of the federal government to ensure that the provinces set and meet interim emissions reduction targets in the lead up to 2030 and 2050.

 

At Zero Waste Yukon, we are committed to supporting a Zero Waste future for the territory. We see the circular economy transition and waste reduction as absolutely vital steps in the fight to reduce emissions and mitigate human caused climate heating.

Four of the five parties campaigning in Yukon have accepted that climate change poses a serious risk to our environment and economy. Due to their outright rejection of the scientific consensus around climate change, the People’s Party of Canada candidate was not asked for a response to these questions.

 

 

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Fireweed Market Survey highlights Yukoners’ waste concerns

Posted on October 4, 2019October 15, 2019 by zerowaste

Yukoners surveyed during Plastic Free July

 

For six weeks this summer, Zero Waste Yukon attended the Fireweed Community Market and surveyed market-goers about their waste concerns and what barriers they encounter when trying to reduce waste in their lives.

First off, thank you to all who participated. It was an engaging six weeks that left us with many new ideas and insights!

You can view the full survey results in PDF form at the bottom of this page, but here are some highlights:

 

What is the biggest waste issue that you see in your neighbourhood/town/community?

Some of the answers we received:

  • – “overconsumption”
  • – “packaging”
  • – “a throw away culture”
  • – “no recycling bags placed strategically for those walking around”
  • – “overpackaging”

 

More than half of individuals saw plastic as the biggest waste issue in their neighbourhood, town, and/or community.

For more than half the individuals who took our survey, single-use packaging, especially at grocery stores, is the largest barrier to living Zero Waste.

 

What do you think your largest barrier to living Zero Waste is?

Some of the answers we received:

  • – “food packaging”
  • – “stores not offering reusables”
  • – “convenience – still learning”

 

Plastic packaging in the grocery stores was a top concern of many people we spoke to. Many consumers felt helpless when shopping and feel that the grocery stores should be doing more to address this issue.

 

Other highlights

 

87% of people surveyed said they have changed their waste practices in the past year, with many bringing reusable bags or cups and reusing containers for food storage. Prioritizing second-hand items was another way in which people are suceeeding in reducing waste in their lives.

75% of people responded that they feel they are part of a community striving to meet Zero Waste! This is evidence that there is a strong community drive to make changes in how we consume.

Zero Waste Yukon is hoping to continue working to identify barriers to reaching Zero Waste and stimulating conversation about innovative ways we can build a waste-free North! If you’d like to join the conversation, get in touch on social media or at info@zerowasteyukon.ca! You can also reach our office at 667-7269 ext. 27.

Read the full survey results

 

 

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Plastic Free July

Posted on June 26, 2019July 6, 2021 by zerowaste

Join the Plastic Free July challenge and #ChooseToRefuse single-use plastics this July!

 

 

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Whitehorse Waste Audit highlights organics, wood, and high volumes of plastics

Posted on May 15, 2019February 19, 2021 by zerowaste

In November of 2017 and July of 2018 the City of Whitehorse conducted a waste composition study to determine the type and source of material entering the landfill.

Over the course of 5 days in summer and winter, ~6500 kg of waste were sorted into 60 categories and weighed to determine the estimated tonnes and types of material entering the landfill from residential, construction and demolition (C&D), and institutional, commercial and industrial (ICI) sectors annually.

The waste audit identified potential for 6500 tonnes of material to be diverted. Diversion potential was based on current programs and policies as well as consultant experience. Last year the diversion rate in Whitehorse was 26%, down from the high of 34% in 2015. Diverting an additional 6500 tonnes would bring the overall diversion rate to 50%. The City of Whitehorse previously adopted a goal of 50% diversion by 2015 and Zero Waste by 2040.

 

Organics

 

The waste audit concluded that organics, wood waste, paper and metal have the highest potential for diversion. Organics make up a small volume of the material landfilled, but they are heavy and contribute strongly to pollution by creating methane and toxic leachate which can pollute ground water.

 

Wood Waste

 

Currently, clean wood is a controlled waste, meaning it must be separated from regular waste, but there are no other diversion strategies for clean wood. Wood waste is heavy and takes up lots of space, and also creates air gaps. Currently some clean wood waste is used in the compost facility, but there is high potential for increased diversion through avenues such as biomass heating.

 

Plastic

 

Wood waste and organics were the largest categories of landfilled waste by weight, but the largest material category by volume is plastic. Soft plastics were the largest portion of the plastic waste stream. This material is light, but takes up lots of landfill space. This landfill space is something we should be valuing very highly, as the costs and footprint of a new landfill are significant.

 

 

While plastics make up only 8% of the weight of material, they account for 29% of the volume of landfilled material. The composite category also has a high volume to weight ratio. Composites include most packaging, particularly multi-laminate packaging and plastic pouches. These single-use items are becoming more and more popular, which was evident in samples, particularly from the residential sector. This material is not currently recyclable, so it is either landfilled or shipped out by recyclers to be used as fuel, often in the production of cement.

The large amounts of this material highlight the need for policies to reduce the production of this material at the source. It also highlights the need to incentivize producers to create packaging that is readily recyclable or compostable. Some grocery stores worldwide have begun to tackle this problem, by providing packaging free options and calling on producers to provide products with less packaging.

 

Product Stewardship is working

 

Only a small amount of beverage containers were observed in samples. The most frequent type were single-serve yogurt drinks and coffee cream. This speaks to the success of the Beverage Container Regulation deposit system.

 

What’s next?

 

These findings highlight the importance of continued efforts to divert organic material from landfill. Composting prevents methane release and toxic leachate formation. It also creates high quality compost which can be used to amend poor Yukon soils. This is good for local food production and reduces our reliance on imported goods.

Reducing our reliance on single-use plastics should also be a priority. These items are filling up our landfill at alarming rates. On top of that, the production of plastics is an increasingly significant contributor to global emissions.

There are many different diversion programs in place nationally and internationally. We can look to other jurisdictions for inspiration. We must continue to reduce our consumption and waste generation in order to lower our emissions.

Our population is growing and waste generation along with it. The more policy and infrastructure we can create to reduce resource use and recover the resources we use, the better off we’ll be.

 

 

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The Poor Creature

Posted on April 30, 2019February 19, 2021 by zerowaste

“Life is for all poor creatures to enjoy. Good food helps.”

If you’ve been to the new NorthLight Innovation Hub on 2nd Avenue you might have noticed a little corner cafe has set up shop.

The Poor Creature opened its doors on December 3, 2018 and serves up delicious plant-based hot meals, salads, coffee, freshly baked goods and sweet treats.

“We care about our ingredients, and you” states their website. Owner Brioni Connolly and her team cook everything from scratch using plant-based ingredients and whole foods. They don’t use palm oil or refined sugar, and the ingredients they use are ethical and local whenever possible.

The cafe sources organic ingredients from places like the Potluck Food Co-Op in Whitehorse and Organic Matters in Nelson, BC, ordering things in bulk as much as possible to reduce waste. Brioni is currently talking to a number of Yukon farmers to figure out how they can supply her kitchen. They reuse materials as much as possible, “recycle like crazy,” and minimize their use of plastic – and it shows.

This tiny bag of garbage was all that was created in a week of work at The Poor Creature. Their dedication to reducing what they use, reusing and recycling means there’s little left to go in the garbage. (The Poor Creature)

 

“I always daydreamed about opening a cafe,” says Brioni. “When I went on maternity leave in 2016, I started doing market research and business planning on the rare occasion my son Luan would nap.”

Brioni applied for the open cafe space at NorthLight and was chosen to set up shop. So what’s on the menu?

The recipes are a collection Brioni has built over the years, and the menu is constantly changing. Some of the offerings include homemade masala chai (with lots of ginger!) and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (delicious!). They also have a great selection of rotating lunch options, such as Asian tofu stew, roasted parsnip soup, potato and roasted hazelnut salad, and many others. They also offer espresso now, using organic and fair-trade coffee from Bean North Coffee Roasters.

The cafe has been a hit for Yukonstruct and Cospace members as well as other hungry Whitehorse workers.

Tikka Masala is just one of the hot lunches served up on The Poor Creature’s ever changing menu. (The Poor Creature)

 

The Poor Creature has recently started offering Zero Waste take-out options, providing food in reusable mason jars. Customers pay a deposit for the jar and can return it to get the money back (or refill it). They also have an extra charge for compostable take-out containers to encourage customers to bring their own containers.

Zero Waste take-out is now on the menu as well, customers can pay a deposit for the jar and bring it back to be re-filled! (The Poor Creature)

 

The Poor Creature also sells nothing in plastic, offering only canned beverages and ensuring everything that goes out the door (even the tea bags) is plastic-free.

“We hardly create any garbage,” says Brioni. Almost everything they use is compostable or recyclable, and they only generate a small amount of garbage from things like soiled aluminum foil. They also separate edible compost from non-edible and give the edible scraps to a local farm that raises hens.

The idea of using less, reusing, and striving for Zero Waste is front and centre in the cafe’s activities. Recently, they repurposed the old Super-Valu sign that was salvaged by Yukonstruct’s former executive director Jarret Slipp during NorthLight’s renovations. Brioni sees this as a neat way to reuse but also to pay homage to what came before and the people who made Whitehorse what it is today.

The old Super-Valu sign makes a neat addition to the cafe’s aesthetic, and pays homage to what came before. (The Poor Creature)

 

The Poor Creature is a shining example of how the food service industry can operate with a minimal footprint and model Zero Waste for its customers.

So stop in, grab a chai, and don’t forget your reusable mug!

 

The Poor Creature is located in the NorthLight Innovation Hub at 2180 2nd Avenue in Whitehorse. Visit www.thepoorcreature.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram for more info!

 

 

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Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 2W6


e. info@zerowasteyukon.ca
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© 2019 Zero Waste Yukon

Facebbok Twitter Instagram
  • Zero Waste Yukon
  • About
    • What is Zero Waste?
    • The Circular Economy
  • Resources
    • For Educators
    • For Businesses
    • Food Waste
    • Videos
    • Plastic Free July
    • Plastic Resources
    • What’s Your Bag Plan?
  • Local Heroes
    • People
    • Organizations
    • Businesses
    • Nominate a Zero Hero
  • Zero Waste Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Event Support
  • Blog
  • Connect With Us