Category: Uncategorized

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.

Only 1% of landfilled waste was glass, which may be due to high recycling rates for glass in the city. Ironically, glass collected by recyclers is not actually recycled due to the economics and logistics of recycling the material. Crushed glass is used as daily landfill cover to prevent windblown litter and to compact material. Fortunately, glass is inert, which means it does not leach toxic chemicals like plastic does when landfilled.

 

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.

 

 

On Tuesday the Government of Yukon announced it was seeking input into a proposed single-use shopping bag surcharge.

They are looking for input from Yukoners into how to apply a surcharge, the surcharge amount, type of bags, potential exemptions, timing and approach for implementation.

Take the Survey!

 

From the Engage Yukon website:

“The Government of Yukon recognizes the impact of plastic waste and has committed, along with federal, provincial and territorial environment ministers, to work towards significant reductions in waste disposal and zero plastic waste in Canada.
One way in which the Yukon government is helping decrease plastic waste is through a proposed surcharge on single-use shopping bags received at point-of-sale.

This is one of many steps that the Government of Yukon is planning to take to improve the territory’s recycling system and make it more sustainable.

The collection of fees for single-use shopping bags will contribute to making recycling more financially sustainable in Yukon and act as a disincentive for their use. Our goal is to reduce single-use shopping bag usage by 70%”

 

Ministers Frost and Streicker weighed in on the announcement.

“Northern Canadians are among the highest waste producers per capita in the world. We can do better. Reducing waste keeps our environment clean and our communities healthy,” said Minister of Environment Pauline Frost.

According to Minister of Community Services John Streicker,

“The Government of Yukon spends approximately $6 million every year to deal with waste including $3 million on non-refundable items such as plastics… A surcharge on single-use shopping bags is a simple yet significant way we can reduce waste, improve our recycling system and make it more sustainable.”

 

Last fall the Yukon Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a motion (Motion 294, as amended) urging the Government of Yukon to “work towards eliminating the distribution of single-use plastic, including plastic bags, food and beverage containers, straws, utensils, lids, and packaging.”

We’re thrilled to see some serious movement on this issue, and it’s very encouraging to see that actions are being taken to address the growing issue of single-use plastics in the Yukon environment. In Northwest Territories, a single-use bag program has reduced bag usage by over 70% and also provided revenue to the territory’s recycling programs.

 

Want to give your input on the proposed single-use bag surcharge? Visit engageyukon.ca to participate in the online survey!

 

For many of us it’s time to set some resolutions for the year to come. To do so, you might start by looking back at the year that was. 2018 was a banner year for news about plastic pollution and the threat of global climate change. The word “single-use” was even chosen as “Word of the Year” by Collins Dictionary.

According to Collins, “single-use encompasses a global movement to kick our addiction to disposable products. From plastic bags, bottles and straws to washable nappies, we have become more conscious of how our habits and behaviours can impact the environment.”

“Plogging” – picking up litter while jogging, also made the short list, highlighting a growing concern with humanity’s impact on the environment.

(collinsdictionary.com)

 

To quote Stephen Buryani’s recent must-read article in The Guardian, The plastic backlash: what’s behind our sudden rage – and will it make a difference?, plastic has become “public enemy number one.”

“Despite the odds, the anti-plastic movement has become perhaps the most successful worldwide environmental campaign to emerge since the turn of the century. If governments are held to their commitments, and the movement maintains its momentum, it will have an effect.”

“In the much larger battle over climate change, the plastic backlash could end up being a small but energizing victory, a model for future action,” writes Buryani.

Pathways of biological and technical materials in a circular economy (Ellen Macarthur Foundation)

 

Coupled with growing awareness of the costs of our rampant consumption is the growth of the Zero Waste movement and the Circular Economy. We are in the midst of an exciting paradigm shift, one that will see us move away from the historic linear approach to industrial production and embrace circular economies where resources are used over and over again.

As individuals we play a pivotal role in bringing about these changes and shaping the world we want to live in. With that in mind, here are 10 simple Zero Waste resolutions you can embrace this year (and beyond):

 

1. Carry a reusable bag

 

This is one of the easiest things you can do to reduce your waste footprint. Canadians use roughly 2.86 billion single-use plastic bags each year. The majority of these are landfilled and recycling is not an effective solution. Once you get into the habit of always being prepared, you’ll wonder how you ever left home without your reusable bag. Keep them in your car, keep them by the door, and be sure to get yourself a set of reusable produce bags as well! Check out our Think Outside The Bag page for info on our campaign for a bag reduction policy in Yukon!

 

2. Give up bottled water

 

We know tap water is a far more efficient system for delivering water than bottled water. Even if every plastic bottle we used was recycled, tap water still uses less resources, produces less greenhouse gas emissions, and avoids other toxic emissions. It is absolutely insane to take water from across the country, bottle it in plastic, and drive it up the Alaska Highway when we have clean, drinkable water right here.

Carry a reusable bottle with you and you’ll likely end up drinking more water too, so it’s a win-win!

 

3. Get a good reusable mug

 

The best way to ensure you’ll remember your reusable mug is to get one you like to drink out of. There are countless options out there so you’ll likely be able to find one that suits your needs. The next step is to commit to using it. Try skipping your coffee or tea if you forget your cup, that way you’ll create a bigger incentive to bring it!

Bringing your own mug means less Tim Horton’s cups littering Yukon streets and parks, and less wasted resources.

 

4. Refuse what you don’t truly need

 

Make 2019 the year you try and refuse as much needless packaging as you can. Whether it’s a disposable bag, disposable cup, or some other items designed for a single-use, saying no will not only help you create less waste, but you’ll also save money! Avoiding impulse purchases can be difficult at first, but like anything, all it takes is a bit of practice.

 

5. Wear your clothes longer, shop secondhand and buy quality

 

Every year, North Americans send 26 billion pounds of clothing to landfills. 95% of this clothing could be reused or recycled. When you throw away your clothes, you’re not just wasting the item itself, but the natural resources used to make that item. It takes over 700 gallons of water to make a t-shirt, and 1800 gallons for a pair of jeans!

Donating your clothes to local thrift stores is a great way to save those resources, and shopping secondhand helps avoid using up resources for new clothes. The most sustainable fashion item is one that already exists.

6. Plan ahead

 

Anticipating your needs and being prepared so you don’t end up with needless waste can take a bit of work. With a little mindfulness, you can create new habits so remembering your reusables becomes second nature. Plan your weekly meals to avoid creating food waste. Think you’ll have a coffee? Bring your mug just in case. Keep a reusable bag in your car, purse, or pocket. You’ll quickly see how much less waste you produce when you get in the habit of always being prepared.

 

7. Say no to straws

 

Straws are one of the easiest single-use items to give up. While they don’t account for a huge part of the waste stream, they are a symbol of unnecessary waste. They’re also one of the easiest items to avoid. Simply say “no straw, please” when dining out. Once you’ve eliminated something simple like straws, it will help you in saying no to other disposable items.

 

8. Cook more

 

Cooking and eating without single-use packaging is a big part of reducing your waste. By avoiding take-out and making more meals yourself, you’ll be avoiding styrofoam and other plastic food packaging. You’ll also eat better, as many processed packaged foods are less healthy than unpackaged fresh foods. Plan your meals to help decrease food waste and don’t forget to make a list when shopping!

 

9. Be positive

 

Making Zero Waste choices every day can be a little daunting, particularly in the grocery store where we’re surrounded by disposable plastic. The news about plastic pollution can also seem bleak. That’s why it’s so important to stay positive. Don’t be discouraged if your cart has a bit more plastic than you’d like, instead celebrate the face that you’re creating less waste than you used to! Give yourself a pat on the back when you remember your reusable cup or bag and it will help you continue to remember!

 

10. Share your success 

 

One thing that makes the journey to Zero Waste easier is help along the way. A growing Zero Waste community will mean more access to waste free products and more power to change our current systems. Sharing tips and success with others is a great way to inspire change, and you’ll also get positive feedback which will help you stay dedicated to fulfilling your resolutions.

 

Whether you choose 1 resolution or commit to making sweeping changes, stay mindful and don’t give up! Don’t be discouraged if you falter, simply start again and know you’re an important part of positive change in your community. Happy New Year!

 

 

Craft fair season means lots of chances to buy great local, handmade products that are durable, support local artisans, and don’t come with lots of plastic packaging.

When it comes to local craft fairs, re:design is one of our favourites, as it showcases local artisans embracing creative reuse and making items out of repurposed goods.

Local artisans Leslie Leong (Leslie Leong Arts) and Darren Holcombe (Laberge Lumber Co.) have been organizing the event for four years, and this year was another success! This year, we teamed up with students from Yukon Montessori School to talk holiday waste reduction at the fair.

Montessori teacher Kelly Scott and her keen students set up two tables at the fair. They talked about single-use bag reduction and offered handmade gift tags to craft fair patrons. The gift tags were a big hit, and the students managed to raise close to $200 for their school!

   Reusable cloth bags and beeswax food wrap samples were given away to craft fair patrons

 

The fair also provided lots of opportunities to chat with people about holiday waste reduction. As Christmas can be a very wasteful time of year, this was a valuable opportunity to chat about ways we can reduce our footprint over the holidays. If you’re looking for tips on a waste-free Christmas, check out our Zero Waste Advent Calendar for 25 days of Zero Waste gift ideas. Be sure to also check out our 12 days of Alternative Gift Wrap page for creative ways to wrap presents without using hard to recycle wrapping paper.

 

The fair also presented a great opportunity to chat about a policy solution to the problem of single-use bags. Zero Waste Yukon is campaigning to reduce single-use bags in Yukon, in order to prevent litter and save precious resources. Learn more about our campaign by visiting our Think Outside The Bag page!

Lots of great input was collected from the public about a potential policy to reduce single-use bags. Many craft fair attendees supported a ban on single-use plastic bags.

 

We’re looking forward to working with the bright and passionate students at Yukon Montessori School again soon. Keep your eyes peeled and don’t forget to Bring Your Own Bag to all the upcoming craft fairs in Whitehorse!