Bulk purchases can seem like a sustainable choice. Less packaging and fewer trips to the store can have a positive impact on your ecological footprint. But there can be downsides, such as ingredients going bad before they are used. So, buying in bulk can be a double-edged sword, when your goal is a #nofoodwasted attitude to eating. Here’s four tips to help you decide when bulk buying fits the Love Food Hate Waste approach: Continue reading →
Most people support the concepts of recycling and waste reduction. They understand the value of keeping our garbage out of landfills whenever possible. That ‘buy-in’ from residents of the region is crucial to achieving Metro Vancouver’s recycling goal of 80% by 2020. But for apartment building managers, landlords, and residents of multi-unit buildings, moving from good intentions to concrete actions can present real challenges. Metro Vancouver’s Multi-Family Recycling Toolkit is helping them find solutions.
Modern units can reduce harmful particulate emissions compared to traditional stoves and fireplaces
Many people believe that wood smoke is natural and not harmful to breathe. Actually, wood smoke is made up of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and a mix of chemicals that can be hazardous to human health. Also, wood smoke is estimated to be the leading contributor of PM2.5 emissions in the region. To reduce the impacts of wood smoke on our air quality Metro Vancouver offers homeowners a cash incentive to upgrade their fireplace or wood stove.
Green construction techniques are advancing in our region, largely through the efforts of industry and civic leaders. See how the trend is delivering innovative new buildings and why our construction choices can impact carbon emissions for decades.
Soil that’s trucked away from construction sites often contains debris and rubble and is not suited to dumping on agricultural land. But, that’s what has been happening in some cases. The Corporation of Delta has enacted legislation to address this and Metro Vancouver will begin tracking the movement of soil in our region.
In just a few hours, crews collect over 30,000 paper cups — to test the viability of a deposit on disposable cups in our region. See how the work of binners keeps our streets clean and provides vital information on disposable cup recycling options.
In this episode, why paying a deposit on disposable coffee cups could mean cleaner streets, how the region is fighting illegal soil dumping on our farmlands, and a look at the evolution of green building efforts across Metro Vancouver.
In this episode of The Sustainable Region, we’re getting up close with bugs and blocked pipes. See how Metro Vancouver crews tackle the clogging culprit of flushable wipes to keep our pipes flowing. Plus, learn how Enterra Feed Corporation reduces organic waste at their Langley facility, by using discarded food to feed black soldier flies, producing animal feed and fertilizer. (16 min)
Metro Vancouver’s air quality and climate change programs aim to make a difference in our lives and these initiatives are having a positive impact. Over the past few years the health risk from air quality was in the ‘low’ category more than 99% of the time. By the numbers, here are important outcomes we have achieved: