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SmartSteps - Business Tools for Sustainability
SmartSteps is a program of tools, technical assistance and information to help your business become more eco-efficient and more competitive. Our goal is to help you find specific, cost-effective actions you can take to reduce the amount of materials and energy your business uses. |
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Metro Vancouver's Case Study shows how to save water and money
A business that uses Once-Through Cooling Water (OTCW) can be wasting millions of litres of municipal drinking water annually. Once-through cooling systems, also known as single-pass cooling systems, typically use municipal drinking water as a means to remove unwanted heat. These systems remove heat by transferring it to a supply of clean, cold municipal drinking water which is discharged directly to the sewer after a single pass. It is a highly inefficient and wasteful use of our region's drinking water. | Recycling Gets Colourful
To help reinforce positive recycling behaviours, Metro Vancouver is recommending standardized bin colours for public event recycling stations. Colour, signage, and design are all important visual prompts which help improve the effective diversion of recyclables from the trash. The recommended colours were selected as they largely mirror municipal curb side recycling systems. | 2009 Waste Assessments The SmartSteps waste reduction assessments continues to be a popular program to assist business improve their waste diversion performance. A wide range of businesses have successfully completed the no-cost waste assessment including:
• a charitable health organization wanting to reduce their environmental footprint;
• an aerospace manufacturer looking for ways to reduce waste and save money;
• a window and door products manufacturer wanting to “green” their operations;
• a major electronics retailer; reviewing their current recycling program; and
• a municipal hall and works yard standardizing their recycling collection and improving their waste diversion performance.
SmartSteps Business Advisors have identified a range of opportunities during the site assessments, including:
• reducing office paper consumption;
• improving the collection of mixed paper and blue box recyclables;
• identifying materials banned from regional waste facilities; and
• finding opportunities to recycle additional items at end-of life.
For information on registering your business for a waste reduction assessment see the resources section of our Business Tools.
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January 2010 GreenPeace's releases the 14th edition of their Guide to Green Electronics Nokia stays in 1st place with a slightly reduced score of 7.3, losing a point for failing to do proactive lobbying for the revised RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electronics) Directive to adopt a methodology for further restrictions of hazardous substances, and immediately ban chlorinated and brominated substances. As of this version of the Guide, Criterion C1 has been sharpened to require companies not only to have a chemicals policy underpinned by the precautionary principle, but also to support a revision of the RoHS Directive that bans further harmful substances, specifically brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs) and PVC vinyl plastic. | Vancouver Whitecaps Fans are Recycling Champs
Vancouver Whitecaps FC fans scored a major victory for the environment by improving the amount of solid waste that was recycled or composted at home matches from just 10 per cent up to 70 per cent. | Changes to EPR Programs announced by MoE
The Ministry of the Environment (MoE) has posted some changes to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs on their website.
Notable changes are:
- Small appliance program launch date has been deferred by 8 months to April 2011
- Lighting equipment and toys programs launch dates have been deferred by 2 years until July 1, 2012
- Lead-acid batteries and antifreeze programs have been added with launch dates of July 1, 2011
| RCBC Board 2010-2011 - Call for Nominations The Recycling Council of BC (RCBC) is seeking nominations from its membership for the 2009-2010 board year. The Board of Directors is elected on an annual basis to reflect BC's geographic distribution and a balance of representation from industry, governments, non-profit organizations, and individuals. The board year runs from May 2010 to May 2011.
Deadline for submission is Monday March 26, 2010. | City of Burnaby Environment Awards 2010 - Make a Nomination Today! The City of Burnaby Environmental Awards Program recognizes contributions made by individuals, groups, organizations and companies to improve Burnaby’s environment and our understanding of it. The program increases the awareness and responsibilities of the public and the City toward the environment. Make a nomination by April 9 and show your support for Burnaby’s environmental leaders!
Nominations will be taken until April 9, 2010 and the awards will be announced by Council on May 17, 2010.
The Environment Awards ceremony will take place on June 6, 2010. | NEW Product Stewardship Handbook for BC Product stewardship is an environmental management strategy guided by the principle that whoever designs, produces, sells, or uses a product takes responsibility for minimizing that product's environmental impact
The Product Stewardship model is comprised of several key players working together to ensure that products no longer being used by consumers are managed in an environmentally friendly manner. The producers, provincial government, local governments, retailers and consumers all have a role.
The principles for product stewardship are producer-user responsibility, level playing field, results based, transparency and accountability, and easy access.
The eight stewardship agencies (Encorp Pacific Canada, Tire Stewardship of BC, BC Used Oil Management Association, Product Care Association, Electronic Stewardship Association of BC, Brewers Association of BC, Post Consumer Pharmaceutical Stewardship Association and Call2Recycle)collaborated to produce this consumer brochure. Much of the interest has come from local governments as they strive to keep their citizens informed. The handbook is being made available in hard copy and as a web link. | Start a Work Recycling Program
This article was published on May 31, 2010 on the Earth 911 website and was written by Trey Granger.
For many of us, home recycling is a pretty easy process. Our city provides us with a recycling bin, and we have Earth911 to tell us what to put in it.
Plus, more programs now allow us to throw everything in one place, so you don’t even need to sort. This convenience can also make recycling outside of the home a challenge.....
| BCFPA Giving Back Program
The BC Food Processors Association is pleased to announce the pilot phase of a new recognition program for its members. BCFPA is formally recognizing and encouraging its members that donate their excess food to charity. Two organizations have been chosen as partners/recipients during this implementation phase; Lookout Emergency Aid Society and Union Gospel Mission. It is expected that the list of recipients will expand over time. Food processors that chose to give back find it gives benefits including; high employee morale, the opportunity to help others, no waste of goods, recognition from your peers, and from your community and tax breaks. | Seattle Bans Single-use Restaurant Packaging from Landfills Seattle is officially the first market area in North America to require single-use food service packaging be either compostable or recyclable. Put into effect July 1, 2010, the ordinance requires restaurants, coffee shops, food courts, cafeterias and other food service businesses to stop throwing away single-use food-service ware and packaging including napkins, paper bags, wooden coffee stir sticks, clamshells and hot and cold beverage cups and lids among others. |
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Resources
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How do you get started?
For more information or on-site technical assistance, please contact a SmartSteps Business Advisor at: |
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 e-mail |  604-451-6575 |  604-436-6811
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