Buddy Boyd of Gibsons Recycling Depot returned from Brazil last week with a renewed passion for creating a Zero Waste Sunshine Coast.
The entrepreneur was invited to speak at an international conference on Zero Waste in Florianopolis, Brazil Oct. 28 to 29. Through hearing other speakers from around the world talk about their Zero Waste initiatives, Boyd found confirmation he is on the right track.
"I came back with all sorts of information about what a Zero Waste community looks like and it turns out that we've already done it here [in Gibsons] in terms of resource recovery," Boyd said.
His depot accepts all kinds of household discards, recycling and used items to be resold or remade into new products, effectively stopping the flow of reusable garbage to the dump for those who use his service.
The recycling depot is a concept now being used in countries across the world with great success, although most depots are run by the government or at least with government funding.
Boyd would like to see the Sunshine Coast Regional District take up the Zero Waste cause on the Coast and invest in more recycling depots in Sechelt and Pender Harbour.
"I now have a blueprint for how we can actually become a Zero Waste community and it involves putting in resource recovery centres in Gibsons, Sechelt and Pender Harbour," he said.
In other countries the recovery centres boast attractions like a kids' play area or a restaurant and Boyd likes the idea of making the centers a community meeting place to encourage people to come out and spend some time.
He has recently come up with his own resource recovery park idea that would incorporate a re-use centre, recycling, composting and an education centre.
He says education is the first step to creating a Zero Waste community locally.
"Communities that implement Zero Waste strategies are aiming to switch from wasteful and damaging waste disposal methods to value-added resource recovery systems that will help build sustainable local economies," Boyd said. "As such, Zero Waste is in complete opposition to land filling and incineration."
Boyd said he is looking for like-minded people to form a Zero Waste community group to help guide the actions of local government and bring forward information that can help governments make informed Zero Waste decisions. If you would like to be involved, contact Boyd at 604-740-1425.
