Sunday, November 30, 2014

Interview with Green Coast Rubbish (Part Two)

We once again spoke with Eamonn from Green Coast Rubbish. This time though, our main focus was on plastic recycling and the opportunities surrounding the industry. Check out our first interview with Eamonn here if you have not read it yet.


1. How is the industry looking right now?
- Speaking from a locally focused point of view, I am encouraged by the progress and direction of our our regional plastics recycling options and programs. Most notably, the North Shore Recycling Drop-off Depot. The depot is a comprehensive facility that takes most numbered plastics, soft plastics, overwrap plastic and a host of other material types. This combined with our municipal Blue Box program puts the North Shore well ahead of the curve when compared to other regions in the Lower Mainland.


2. What is your involvement in plastic recycling? Any specific types of plastics?
- Plastics are just one of the many material types that we recycle. We remove and recycle all numbered plastics (HDPE, PET, V, LDPE, PP & PS), which includes hard and soft plastics as well as Styrofoam. In 2013, we recycled 110 cubic yards of Styrofoam and over 2 tonnes of plastics.


3. Does your company mainly focus on plastic recycling? If not, what does your company focus on?
-Our primary focus is not on plastics recycling, however, plastics are one of the many materials that we remove and recycle for our various commercial and residential clients.

- As I mentioned, we do not focus on recycling one type of material, but we do provide our clients with a service that strives to find the best end use through recycling, donation or resue for all material types that we remove, which includes: furniture, appliances, TV’s & electronics, wood, drywall, metals, etc.


4. Do you see people/businesses becoming more aware of the issues with plastics? Or other potential recycling materials? Can you give some examples?
- Yes l believe that people and businesses are becoming more environmentally conscious or concerned about issues with our wide spread use of plastics locally as well as globally. A great example of this is the recent state wide ban of the plastic bag in California. Furthermore, environmental disasters like the floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean known as the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ is acting as a giant wakeup call and a catalyst for change.


5. What are the benefits of doing plastic recycling? Any statistics that you could maybe give?
- The environmental benefits of plastic recycling are far reaching. Consider, as we mentioned in a recent blog post (Plastics: A Complex Issue), since the 1950’s, over a billion tonnes of plastics have been thrown away and between 60-80% of all debris found in our oceans and waterways are plastic. Can you think of a more compelling reason to recycle plastics?


6. Where do you see your company in 1 year? In 5 years?
- In a year from now I see Green Coast Rubbish continuing to make headways towards adopting and developing new practices in achieving even a greater diversion rate (currently 76%) while also exploring and executing options for lowering our Carbon Footprint.

- In five years from now I see Green Coast Rubbish running 100% of our fleet on alternative energy sources, being an entirely paperless organization (we are nearly there), providing waste management / recycling solutions to new sectors and closer to our aspiration goal of achieving a 100% diversion rate for all the material that we remove for our clients.


Special thanks to Eamonn and Green Coast Rubbish for taking part in this interview. Check out Green Coast Rubbish's Website here! Also, here is a link to their Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.




Tuesday, November 25, 2014

E-Waste in Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is the hub of technological innovation in North America, and so it is obvious that electronic waste would be prominent in this area. With technical giants such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft having a prominent role in Silicon Valley, the technology used by these companies has to go somewhere.

This is where a major centre of E-waste can come from. Silicon Valley is a major perpetrator of E-waste, and they outsource this E-waste to developing countries all throughout the world.
There have been groups in Silicon Valley that have tried to curb these wastes. One of them is the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC). This organization focuses on reducing toxics and wastes caused from electronics in that specific area [1].

Only about “15 to 20 percent of E-waste is recycled”[2], which leaves a ton of e-waste to be exported into other developing countries [3].

These e-wastes also go into the prison system, where prisoners work on them, with no positive health conditions to speak of [4].

The coalition has tried to add some more proper recycling practices. It has been a difficult process, but it has been slowly moving forward.

E-recycling is a necessity for this world, but especially in the major technological hubs in the world. Silicon Valley shows that even a small area can have a major impact on the entire world, and it can affect millions upon millions of people. This needs to change, and more safe and viable E-recycling practices need to done in Silicon Valley, here in Vancouver, as well as around the world.

[1] svtc.org
[2] ibid.
[3] ibid.
[4] ibid.


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Example of an E-Recycling Company in Vancouver

A non-profit that has been a big advocate for recycling electronics in Vancouver is Free Geek Vancouver. What this progressive non-profit does is they “reduce the environmental impact of waste electronics by reusing and recycling donated technology.” In other words, Vancouverites donate computers that they are not using to Free Geek, and it is fixed not by professionals, but by the community and citizens. This weekend I will have the privilege to talk to them about their awesome non-profit, their goals, and their vision.

Link to Free Geek: http://www.freegeekvancouver.org/


Written by: Inderpal Brar

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Health Risks of E-Waste

In our previous article, we briefly looked at the general scope of E-waste. This article will focus specifically on the health hazards. As said in the previous article, E-waste contains chemicals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury [1]. These chemicals are toxins that can affect the body in several different ways. Many of them have carcinogenic and lethal properties.

Lead- Affects the kidneys, nervous system, and reproductive system. It also leads to cognitive and developmental problems in the brains of children. It also lowers intelligence and causes permanent damage to adult brains as well. [2]

Cadmium- Is a human carcinogen (it causes cancer). It can also lead to cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive damage. [3]

Mercury- Mercury is one of the most dangerous and lethal chemicals around, and it mostly affects "the nervous, digestive system, the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.” [4].


Check out this short video to see the impact of E-waste on third-world countries (specifically India)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkndVAwBf_k


E-waste can have a negative effect on not only the environment, but on humans as well. With these toxic chemicals being released from these products, humans are the ones that are suffering from it. This needs to change, and better recycling methods must be utilized instead of dumping all of this waste into other countries. The chemicals above are just a few examples of the many chemicals within E-waste, and the affect of these chemicals on the health of humans is being severely underestimated.


Written by: Shaun Kular


Thursday, November 13, 2014

What is E-Waste?

E-waste is becoming a growing problem in the world, and a lot of governments are ignoring the issue, but more and more people are becoming aware of the problem that e-waste has on the environment and people’s health. Entrepreneurs are always the innovators and are always the first people to find a new way to solve a problem. The problem though is that sometimes when a person wants to change, they need to educate investors, people and customers. This can be done by giving an elevator pitch, and here is somewhat of an elevator pitch to talk about what e-waste is and the harmful effects it has on humans.

What is e-waste?: “Includes computers entertainment electronics, mobile phones, and other items.”[1] In which these items are being thrown out and recycled.

What are the effects?: There are a lot of harmful of affects of e-waste which contains, “lead, cadmium, and mercury”[2]. Harm to humans from these toxic metals can include lead in the “peripheral nervous system”- This can lead to damage in the spinal cord, which is a, “vast communication network that transmits information”[3]. If you want more information please visit this website, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796756/.

What are the problems?: There a lot of these wastes that are going to Africa and Asia. Many of them are illegal e-waste that are being dumped within these developing countries. The problem is that more people are having these health problems in these areas, because of this waste.

What is Vancouver’s Role?: They have a lot of e-waste problems, and a lot of e-waste in Vancouver get shipped from Port Vancouver illegally. Even though Vancouver does not throw e-waste in their own area, they have a shipping port in which they toss all the e-waste that Vancouver gets into the environments of developing nations.

Written by: Inderpal Brar

[1] http://www.rcbc.ca/resources/additional-resources-links/e-waste
[2] http://www.wisegeek.com/why-is-e-waste-dangerous.htm
[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796756/

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Intro to Electronics Recycling

When one thinks of recycling, they do not necessarily think of electronic waste. Electronics take up a major part of waste, especially as technology begins to take a more prevalent role in our society. Today, many homes have computers, cell phones, televisions, and other forms of technology. But where do they do once they are no longer of use?

This month, we will focus on electronics waste and recycling. We’ll look at what it is, talk to professionals in the field, and we’ll look at the impact of electronics waste on the environment. This is a very broad field, and we’ll try to cover as much of it as possible.  

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Conclusion to Plastic Recycling

This month, we have discussed the plastic recycling, how plastics can affect the environment, and potential opportunities for entrepreneurs in this industry.

For our next topic, we will be focusing on electronic waste and electronic recycling. It is not necessarily something that one thinks about when it comes to different recycling industries, and so you may learn many interesting things in this next topic.

We will also be gearing up for our Fossil Free Kwantlen: The Renewable Age event in March. Further updates will be posted once we get them. Check out our plastic recycling articles below if you haven't seen them yet. Links are below!


1) Introduction to Plastic Recycling

2) Plastic Recycling- What is Included

3) Identifying the harms of Plastic

4) Plastics on the environment- Sea Animals

5) What young entrepreneurs can learn from Plastic Recycling

6) The Plastic Recycling Industry in Canada

7) Interview with Westcoast Plastic Recycling- Peter (Part Two)

Monday, November 3, 2014

Interview with Westcoast Plastic Recycling- Peter (Part Two)

A few days back, we went to the Westcoast Plastic Recycling plant to speak with Peter and check out their facilities. It was a great experience, and we have some pictures below as well. Before reading this article, check out our first article with Peter here if you haven't yet.


1) How is the industry looking right now
As a market, it’s getting better. There was a major market crash back in 2007, but pricing increases are getting back to levels before the crash. The quality standards are higher now, and everything has to be separated now, including Styrofoam and shrink wrap. Overall, it looks good.

2) Are people becoming more knowledgeable about plastic recycling?
Yes, especially since there are more public knowledge campaigns now. We deal with mostly commercial and institutional grade-a plastic though, and usually, people who are interested in plastic recycling know their stuff.

3) Why did you get into plastic recycling?
There are lots of benefits. First off, plastic doesn't decompose well (approximately 10000 yrs). It also lets off bad emissions. We take plastics out of the waste stream, and that reduces cost of waste pickup overall, since we sometimes do it for free. We usually either pick-it up for free or at a low price of $10. It reduces garbage costs for companies significantly.


4) Is it difficult to educate people about the harms of plastic/plastic recycling?
We aren't really trying to educate people. For the most people, people do know the harms. Everybody in Vancouver is environmentally conscious. An example of this is that some people even take buses and public transportation from Vancouver to drop off plastics.

5) Advice for students?
Go to the recycling council of BC. There is a yearly conference in which any recycling company in BC can go to. Go to their meetings and network, and you’ll learn quite a bit.

6) Where do you see this company in 1 year? In 5 years?
In 1 year, we will still be here. We just moved to this location. We’ve almost doubled in business since we started 6 years ago. Started free, but started charging. Contracts. We likely won’t double business this year due to already quick expansion. 3500 customers this year




Sunday, November 2, 2014

Fossil Free Kwantlen: The Renewable Age

We will be hosting an event called Fossil Free Kwantlen: The Renewable Age at Kwantlen Polytechnic University on March 19th and 20th, 2015. This event is for University students and members of the community. Our ultimate goal is to assist Kwantlen Polytechnic University in divesting out of fossil fuels and going into more renewable forms of energy, such as solar and wind power. This event is also to promote the social, economic, and environmental arguments to support a local and global shift into renewable energy in addition to divesting fossil fuel investments from multiple institutions across the globe. Another primary aim is to educate students, faculty, and community members about Green Jobs and a shift into a Green economy.

We will be posting more information about this major event as we get closer to the date. The event is free of charge and it is open to all members of the community. If you would like further information or have any questions, send us an email at inderpalbarry22@gmail.com or shaunkular93@gmail.com. Stay tuned!


Adhesif Clothing Store Visit

We recently went to Adhesif Clothing’s store. The store has over 50 local designers that are showcasing their products at Melissa’s store. The store is located at 2202 Main Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. You can see our past interview with Melissa here. Also, check out Melissa's own blog here!