We were gratified recently when the Cowichan Valley Regional District recognized us for the recycling program we implemented in 2009 that cut our carbon footprint in half.
Since the previous article I wrote to announce this in early July, the CVRD has also released a video interview with me. Below is the video, followed by the text of the questions I was given in advance, and the answers I intended to give. I’m not sure they came out on camera as fluidly as I would have liked, so I wanted to include the full text of them as well. Feel free to let me know in the comments how you think I did!
VIDEO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. You’ve been identified as someone who is an innovator or a leader in reducing waste. What is it that you are doing?
At Gillingham Cabinets, we now recycle most of our waste – especially our wood off-cuts – in partnership with Steel Pacific Recycling. This has cut the weight of garbage we send to the landfill by 90%, and cut our carbon footprint by over 50%. We’ve been doing this since January 2009, and we continue to measure our carbon footprint on a yearly basis.
2. What does Zero Waste mean to you?
Zero waste is tricky, because no one is perfect. I think it’s best to aim for zero waste on balance, much like we do when we go camping and aim to leave the campsite better than we found it.
3. Why do you think it is important in the Cowichan?
It’s important anywhere, but reducing waste in the Cowichan valley is especially important because we truck so much of our garbage off-island. Also, because we produce so much more garbage per capita than the rest of the world, a percentage change here has more impact per capita than it would elsewhere.
4. Do you think we can achieve it here?
Yes. If we aim for it on balance, by having a positive impact to offset our inevitable negative impacts, we can achieve zero waste. We can achieve it and more.
5. How do you see that happening?
A tangible example could be planting extra trees to compensate for the fossil fuels that we inevitably consume in our modern world. More sophisticated ways of having a net-positive impact are required by our modern economy, and we are fortunate to be in a province that is leading in this area. Policies like the carbon tax, and being part of the Western Climate Initiative that is developing a carbon-trading market, so we need to support green choices by our governments. On a more local level, measuring our carbon footprint as individuals and organizations is a good next step. You can’t manage what you haven’t measured. That’s what we did and we were surprised to find out just how much we could reduce our footprint.
6. Do you have any simple and practical tips or advice for others in the Cowichan?
Start with what you do often, especially things that you can change and never have to think about them again. A small reduction will add-up fast – just like wealthy barber said about saving money. Remember it goes Reduce, Re-use, and THEN Recycle.