Zero Waste Challenge
Hållbarhet 2009 Zero Waste Challenge
UPDATE
The Hållbarhet 2009 event in Whistler/Vancouver saved a significant amount of waste from heading to the landfill thanks to those that signed up below and were present this weekend. The rough estimate of savings is:
- 20 cups of compost (food scraps and coffee + tea grinds) - Our focus on organics diversion was a success
- 70 paper cups didn’t get used because EVERYONE used reusable cups
- We opted for real spoons and recyclable milk cartons instead of stir sticks and individual creamers
- Our local lunch caterer Ingrid’s in met our Zero Waste challenge by using only fabric linens in straw baskets, instead of deli paper and styrofoam takeout trays
- Ingrid’s also provided a large reusable juice dispenser instead of their usual individual juice boxes - which we could drink from our re-usable cups washed in the libraries kitchen facilities
- We used fabric napkins avoiding about 32 paper napkins
- approximately 1 kg of miscellaneous paper products were recycled
LESSONS LEARNED
- Next time an all vegetarian lunch would be preferred and a more sustainable option (meat got picked out and composted)
- The amount of cutlery/plates/cups etc. we originally suggested to bring wasn’t necessary - a compact set with a cup, fabric napkin and spoon would have sufficed
- In an ill-considered moment of nostalgia I (Jen) purchased cannelle bulle dough in what looked like recyclable packaging but it turned out to be silver-foiled lined (doh).
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The Hållbarhet 2009 event has a zero waste target. This means taking a preventative approach to waste by finding ways to avoid disposables and to divert resources from landfill during the gatherings. Our special focus will be on organics diversion.
To support the zero-waste target please bring a mug, plate, cutlery, and a cloth napkin to your regional event.
To sign up for the Zero Waste Challenge and find out more email jennichols@hotmail.com.
Participants who have committed to the Zero Waste Challenge so far:
- Alan Atkisson (Stockholm)
- Edna Aguinaga (Vancouver)
- Andre Benaim (Karlskrona)
- Anouk Bertner (Ottawa)
- Richard Blume (Stockholm)
- Alaya Boisvert (Ottawa/Vancouver)
- Sarah Brooks (Ottawa)
- Lisa Chacon (San Francisco)
- Sarah Cheevers (Vancouver)
- Geneva Claesson (Calgary)
- Tamara Connell (Karlskrona)
- Anne DeMelle (Seattle)
- Brendan DeMelle (Seattle)
- Maura Dilley (New York)
- Melanie Dubin (Seattle)
- Georges Dyer (Gloucester)
- Michelle Dyer (Gloucester)
- Karl Fulson (Vancouver)
- Liane Fredericks (London)
- Simon Goldsmith (London)
- Nat Haltrich (Vancouver)
- Michael Henson (Seattle)
- Ingrid Jacobson (San Francisco)
- Dan Johnson (Reno)
- Ella Lawton (Cromwell, NZ)
- Pong Leung (Vancouver)
- Derek Low (Seattle)
- Amity Lumper (Seattle)
- Tracy Lydiatt (Perth)
- Laura MacKay (Whistler)
- Margaret McRoberts (San Diego)
- Rachelle McElroy (Victoria)
- Merlina Missimer (Karlskrona)
- Jennifer Nichols (Vancouver)
- Timothy Nichols (London)
- Jason Niles (Ucluelet)
- Anne Nolan (Australia)
- Katie Pease (Vancouver)
- Itzel Orozco (Portland)
- Andrew Outhwaite (based in London)
- Heleen Podsedkowska (Karlskrona)
- Julia Ribeiro Pereira (Rio)
- Mitchell Rhodes (Whistler)
- Amy Seabrooke (Vancouver)
- Neil Pegram (Vancouver)
- Renate Sitch (Vancouver)
- Heidi Speight (Portland)
- Geoff Stack (Baltimore
- Magdalena Szpala (Vancouver)
- Freek van der Pluijm (Breda)
- Dave Waldron (Vancouver)
- Debra Westcott (Philadelphia)
- Shawn Westcott (Stockholm)
- Jennifer K. Woofter (Bethesda)
- Heather Worosz (Vancouver)
- Fiona Wright (Ottawa)