Not only are we environmentalists, but pretty soon we will be movie stars, too. We’ve successfully received funding from the Columbia Basin Trust to film a documentary about the plastic bag reduction initiative that started in Rossland. Our hope is that by video-documenting the project and the lessons we learned, the film can be used as a guide for other communities wishing to implement similar initiatives.
Let the cameras roll!
Since November, Megan and Jen have been busy compiling information and sourcing suppliers as part of the Waste Reduction Initiative for the West Kootenay Festival Association, and at last, they are ready to unveil their findings. This report shares waste reduction strategies implemented at other festivals, identifies food container alternatives – reusable plates and cups, bioplastic, and fibre options, and makes recommendations for solutions that would be appropriate for the West Kootenay Festivals. Ellen and the other festival coordinators are excited to receive the report, which has initiated a lot of spirited dialogue about the next steps. Greener Footprints looks forward to continuing to follow the project, which may even see the festivals develop a compostable waste stream!
May the sweet summertime memories of outdoor festivals return as our partnership with Ellen Kinsel and the Kootenay Festivals Waste Reduction Initiative continues! Since we introduced the project in May, Ellen and the festival group have successfully received funding from the Columbia Basin Trust, to hire Greener Footprints to consult on the initiative. Board member Jen Reilly and researcher Megan Humphrey have taken on the job, so they are now busy compiling research on waste practices from other festivals. If all goes according to plans, the festival coordinators will have our report in hand in the new year and be ready to take action!
Photo Credit: Ellen Kinsel
Nothing’s better than dancing barefoot under the summer sun at your favourite music festival. But the sounds are often bittersweet as this music-lovers scene is often also burdened with overflowing trash cans and a sea of single-use, disposable food containers. And this is what got Ellen Kinsel’s wheels turning.
Ellen is the coordinator of the Hills Garlic Festival in New Denver, BC, and Greener Footprints is excited to be partnering with her to develop a waste reduction strategy for various festivals and events in the West Kootenays – including the Nakusp Music Festival, Kaslo Jazz Festival and Shambhala Music Festival. Ellen is currently seeking funding for the project from the Columbia Basin Trust. Optimistic about her success, we’ve started marking festival dates on our calendars…for research, of course!
After a year of reducing their plastic bag use and encouraging customers to bring their own reusable coffee mugs, the Modern Bakeshop and Cafe in Revelstoke is now plastic bag free! In an effort to reduce waste, owners Kevan McCroy and Josee Bronte established an environment fund in 2008, charging customers 25 cents for takeaway coffee cups, with proceeds donated to local environmental groups. Going 100% plastic bag free is the next logical step.
Calling artists of Squamish, we have a fantastic opportunity for you to create the design featured on our Squamish reusable shopping bag. The winning design will receive a $300 honorarium and will be featured on 15,000 reusable bags, with one free reusable bag to be delivered to each household in Squamish. Entries close 30th June, 2008. Download our PDF flyer for more details.
Tracey and Greener Footprints made it into the top ten finalists for the Earth Day Canada Hometown Hero award for 2008. Woohoo! Thank you so much to all our wonderful Rossland volunteers that have made this possible.
As part of Earth Day, Greener Footprints has joined forces with LUSH to starve the Bag Monster and ban the plastic bag. LUSH collected petition signatures in support of banning plastic bags in all 39 stores across Canada.
The West Kootenay Eco-Society presented six environmental awards Saturday evening at their Annual Awards Gala held in Nelson. Co-founder, Tracey Saxby, won the award in the “Resource Recovery” category. Kathy Moore and Alynn McKenzie accepted the honor on Tracey’s behalf. We would like to thank all of our incredible Rossland volunteers – this award is for you.
We love Earth Day so much that we’ve decided to create carbon copies of ourselves so we can be in two places at once!
Squamish: Nexen Beach from 12pm – 4pm
Trail: Gyro Park from 10am – 4 pm