What a year it has been. Thank you for staying safe, focussed, keeping busy and of course supporting our small business.
We took this pandemic as a real opportunity to rethink about the impacts on our planet and our communities. We feel we used this time wisely even though it was incredibly challenging and had the opportunity to share our impact work to others in hopes of creating a better way of life by keeping our planet, healthy and safe.
As you know it was very important to keep our employees safe too and also busy during this pandemic. We are very grateful to our amazing and dedicated crew Zack, Mark and of course Carl. Having employees who share the same values and want to make a positive impact on the planet and their own community fuels our desire to do what we do.
Without Zoom, we are not sure if we would have made such amazing strides and connecting with many like-minds focussing on the task at hand; zero waste, climate change and remaining true.
Here is where we had the opportunity to present the work we are doing as well as be part of a larger and important conversation around C & D waste and diversion:
1. We were invited to speak at the Resource Recovery Centre Project Town Hall in Powell River
2. Buildex Conference in Vancouver; we spoke on “Deconstruction Through the Lens of Embodied Carbon Reduction” along with Unbuilders
3. We became proud members of the National Zero Waste Council – and sit on the wood waste committee. We have monthly meetings to discuss ways to educate and divert wood waste.
4. Closing the Loop: Zero Waste Conference – We participated in a day long conference online to discuss ways to become zero waste through policy making in all aspects, this conference was an opportunity to share with the government steps they can take.
5. Passive House Canada invited us to speak at their Technical Workshop online along with Nickel Bros. and the City of Vancouver
6. Chris was invited to a special Town Hall on the Circular Economy as well as two other impact businesses, Felix Böck ChopValue and Tom Bedford of Ginger Jars.
7. We spoke at Coast Waste Management Association Conference along with, City of Vancouver, and Ocean Legacy Foundation
8. Envirolab invited us along with UnBuilders to speak at their Zero Waste and Circular Economy Youth Cohort
9. We spoke at Project Zero Roundtable along with Unbuilders
10. We have been invited to an exciting Construction Waste Working Group with municipalities from across BC getting together to make sure C & D diversion becomes a top priority.
11. We launched a TOOLKIT on our site to make landfill diversion easy on every construction site worldwide.
And lastly we had our first consultation opportunity with the City of Vancouver, we will be sharing the details shortly.
We never would have thought how productive and important this year was for us with all of the impacts of a global pandemic but we are now a driving voice on how we all can do better for our community and our fragile planet through construction waste diversion.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, it truly means a lot to this little husband and wife team.
Happiest of holidays, it won’t be the same but at least we can take the time to rest, be safe and stay healthy with our family (in our bubble that is)
All the best for 2021, let’s make it a much better one!
Cinci + Chris
P.S. we wanted to share with you few tips or resolutions for the new year:
1. Set up a designated recycling station. Dedicate bins or a site area for diverting materials such as metal, cardboard, plastics, drywall, clean wood as well as reusable building materials. Not only does taking metal to the scrap yard keep these materials out of the landfill, you’ll generate funds to help pay for end-of-the-week beers or treats for the crew. It’s a win-win!
2. Encourage designs that create less waste creation. Raise awareness of expected environmentally conscious waste management practices at the beginning of the project; we need to lead by example. Use standard sizes and qualities of materials and always plan ahead to reduce cut-offs and over-ordering, unless used items can be returned or donated.
3. Think twice before you toss it. Could it be reused? Usable lumber up to 4 feet can be taken to not for profits such as Habitat for Humanity, Urban RePurpose, Squamish ReBuild and Whistler Re-Build-It Centre. Extra dimple mat or blue rigid insulation is also a great material to donate too. Give them a call and they will be sure to answer all your donation questions!
4. Deconstruction is the NOW. Dismantle buildings rather than knock them down to increase the amount of undamaged materials that can be salvaged and donated.
5. Reusable mugs and bottles DO make an impact. Invest in reusable mugs or bottles for your crew, since nearly half of the garbage collected on construction sites are from disposable coffee cups and single-use containers. As an extra step, supply a water service for your site. Less plastic water bottles the better!
6. Be a recycling hero! Take the lead on-site. Download the Recycling Council of BC’s Recyclepedia app. It’s a quick and simple tool that helps you find more than 1,000 drop-off locations and recycling options for over 70 materials or products across the province or give your local Recycling Hotline a call.
