2021 Municipal Election Responses
Rick Comrie
My thoughts are that as residents and business owners, we must do all we can in reducing our waste and managing our waste responsibly.
Waste has become an issue in our society, and it is the government’s duty to incentivize industry to overcome and solve societal issues. Industry creates jobs and wellness in our communities, and it is important to support industries that support you.
Malik Chukwudi
No response.
Vanessa Denman
Answered.
Brian Gregg
Plastic-free campaign
1.) Personally, I practice buying a minimum of consumer goods and am aware that many things we buy just for fun are really not necessary, because if you use your imagination there is an abundance of free fun we can enjoy. On the societal level I believe we should use any systems we can to reduce waste. At the same time, we have to take care that we are not overzealous to the point that we anger others and it closes off support for our initiatives.
2.) I will be looking to Waste Free Edmonton and other concerned Edmontonians to advise on what steps the city can take to reduce and better manage our waste. Certainly, regulations to largely ban or severely reduce single-use plastic is something the city should do.
3.) I strongly support your proposal on your website.
Kim Krushell
1.) Waste reduction plays a key role in tackling climate change and in building a sustainable future. It has become apparent that we must shift away from our current culture of consumption and adjust our habits on both a personal and societal level. I understand that adjusting personal habits and making efforts to live a greener lifestyle can be intimidating for many of us. It is important that our municipalities offer education and support to our citizens to make it easier for everyone to do their part. This is an excellent opportunity for our city to use technology and innovation to help us face these changes. My personal efforts to reduce waste include reducing my use of plastic and single-use items, educating myself on sustainable products, supporting local businesses, and buying used clothing from second hand stores.
On a societal level, waste reduction preserves our natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces costs to our waste management service, and will have positive economic impact through the redistribution of usable items. The City of Edmonton has developed a Waste Reduction Roadmap and Public Education Programs to support its 25-year Waste Strategy. As Mayor, I will continue to develop these programs and pursue innovative strategies that work towards Edmonton’s zero waste future.
2. ) The City of Edmonton’s waste management system is a critical function in our communities. This year, Edmonton launched its new waste management system to promote recycling and reduce the amount of waste sent to our landfills. These are important goals that effectively contribute to preserving our environment and natural resources. We must work together as citizens to adjust our habits and reduce household waste. The city’s new system remains in its introductory stage and requires time to be integrated into all of our communities. It is important to give our citizens and the employees of our waste management service time to adjust to this new system before it is appropriate to advocate for specific changes. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of this system as it continues to be implemented across Edmonton.
The removal of household waste has a meaningful impact on our daily lives and how we experience our city. The goal of reducing waste can be achieved while maintaining a high quality of service and functionality in our communities. As Mayor, I will seek feedback from citizens and will be open to pursuing improvements to ensure that our waste management service work.
3.) The federal government has announced a ban of six single-use plastic items that are set to be phased out across the country by 2022. It is important for the City of Edmonton to implement strategies that will prepare our business owners for these upcoming changes. We need to ensure our city is more sustainable and livable for the long-term and phasing out single-use plastic items is a step towards achieving this goal. We must collaborate with our business sector to promote innovation and ensure they receive adequate support as we work towards making Edmonton a more sustainable city. We must take an outcome-driven approach when implementing strategies and/or bylaws to ensure that they are effective. As Mayor, my priority will be pursuing environmental initiatives that have a real and measurable impact.
I am prepared to support using Waste Free Edmonton’s SUP Framework as the basis for developing a single-use reduction strategy. It is important that the city creates a complimentary bylaw that is coordinated with the impending federal ban on certain single-use plastic items and the province’s planned extended producer responsibility framework.
Augustine Marah
No response.
Mike Nickel
No response.
Michael Oshry
Answered.
Amarjeet Sohi
1.) Edmonton is at a pivotal moment in our fight to protect the environment. We can see with our own eyes the impacts of a changing climate all around us. We all have a role to play in waste reduction. As a corporation, the City of Edmonton has an obligation to show leadership on this file. If elected Mayor, I will ask Council and Administration to join me in working to reduce our waste as a corporation and provide greater tools and resources to businesses and citizens to do so as well. This waste reduction will include supporting federal and provincial waste education initiatives with common goals.
2.) When I served on City Council, Edmonton was a recognized world leader in waste management. Recent audit results have shown that we have gotten somewhat complacent. I welcome the ambitious vision for waste reduction and management outlined in the 25 Year Waste Strategy. I support the new waste cart system, and the discussions of expanding it to apartment buildings as well. This will be an essential part of reaching our goal as a City of 90% diversion from the landfill. Like all new systems, there may be tweaks and adjustments we need to look at over the coming months to ensure it meets the needs of residents and the city.
3.) I support finding ways to limit and reduce our waste, including innovative approaches to single-use items. That said, I think we need to strike a thoughtful balance between the role that these items are currently playing in allowing people to shop local safely as we continue to address COVID-19 and reducing waste. I also want to hear from Edmontonians living with disabilities about how we can approach limiting and reducing single-use plastics in a way that is inclusive to their needs.
Diana Steele
Plastic-free campaign
1.) I think everyone should do their part to reduce, reuse and recycle – both personally and on a societal level.
2.) I have no issues or concerns with the City of Edmonton’s waste management system. I appreciate they are rolling out a new system right now and it seems to be a positive step forward in achieving the goal of seeing half our our waste diverted from the landfill.
3.) Yes, I support both of these proposals. Single use items are a luxury we can sacrifice for the greater good.
Cheryll Watson
1.) I believe that we all have a responsibility to leave our city, and the world at large, a better place than when we found it. In my opinion this applies directly to waste reduction. As consumers our choices have impact and the more that we use our buying actions to support companies that are committed to responsible sourcing, production, packaging and shipping practices we can have positive influence. The education you are doing in the schools is important as it is creating early understanding and awareness that will have a big impact on our future.
2.) I applaud the City for implementing the waste cart system because we know that by making composting and recycling simple it will positively influence behaviors. The cart system is one that has been used in other cities for many years and so in relation I’d like us to look around the world to see which are also leading and implementing other best in class waste management and behavior influencing practices. Additionally, I’d like us to create opportunities for local innovators to test new methods of recycling and repurposing our waste.
3.) Thank you for sharing this proposed framework but at this time I’m not able to endorse it. While I appreciate the sentiment and intent of the framework, as we all focus on recovering from the effects of the pandemic I don’t believe that now is the time to impose additional business modifications and consumer fees. From the conversations that I’ve had with residents they’ve told me this is a time of crisis and survival for so many of them. Businesses are also hard pressed with making changes to how they operate, adding additional changes during this time, particularly when they are relying on things like take out or delivery, would be yet another barrier to their survival.
It’s my vision to create a city that works today and into the future. A waste management system that works and encourages Edmontonians to be more actively engaged in waste reduction is part of that vision. This bylaw is something I might be willing to consider in a post COVID-19 world should the research and data show it to be a workable and helpful idea for Edmonton’s waste management system.
Andrew Knack
1.) We have an environmental, financial, and societal obligation to work towards a waste-free future. Filling up landfills with waste is not environmentally sustainable and over time, it will cost society even more to deal with waste instead of diverting it from landfills. Personally, our household has changed our approach over the last few years. Even though we are in a condo, we have started composting and have actively worked to reduce our consumption (ex: bringing our own containers for food).
2.) For many years, Edmontonians thought we were doing a better job at waste management than we actually were. Now that we have properly audited what was taking place to determine what wasn’t working, a new 25-year Waste Strategy has been adopted in order to properly hit our targets. I believe that if we follow through with the actions identified in that strategy, we will be a much more sustainable city.
3.) I do support a strategy and/or bylaw to restrict single-use items. Yes, the proposed framework serves as a good basis for developing a strategy and/or bylaw.
Dave Olivier
No response.
Steve Weston
No response.
Mark Davies
1.) There is a moral obligation to conserve and preserve the environment for future generations. I believe there has been an evolution in regards to how people regard waste. There is much more education, advocation, and practices that are evident in today’s world. However, we simply can’t rest on our laurels and must continue to research and be active participants in the future of waste reduction. From a personal standpoint, I do my best to separate waste from recycling or simply try to be less of an active consumer that involves less packaging.
2.) As of right now, the city of Edmonton is in the process of rolling out the new cart system. I think this is a good first step to assist residents in making decisions that benefit responsible waste management in Edmonton. As this is a new system there will be kinks that need to be addressed and I look forward to hearing feedback from the residents in ward Anirniq. Earlier, I talked about the evolution of waste reduction, I think the blue bin rolling out in the 1980’s is a good example of how far we have come in regards to the consideration of waste reduction.
3.) After reviewing the proposed framework which is comprehensive, I do think there are many valid points but due to the economic recovery of the city and practices that are already in place such as paying for paper bags at certain grocery retailers, I would look at specific points for future consideration.
Bev Esslinger
No response.
Ali Haymour
1.) I believe waste reduction is an extremely important factor in reducing costs for waste collection, transportation, recycling and landfill, which of course are core services that cost the city millions of dollars yearly. Everyone, including businesses, has a responsibility to reduce waste as much as possible. Fast food is a particular offender, as a single muffin order for example can include the muffin wrapper, tissue paper, napkin, plastic butter containers, bag and receipt! It’s saddening to see the amount of paper and cardboard for a single takeout meal. Packaging of all kinds seems out of control, both in consumer goods and foods. Any effort to curb the waste and thereby reducing the demand and disposal of paper is worthwhile.
2.) I also support the right to repair initiative, which could extend the life cycle of many products, thereby reducing waste. Although this is not a civic issue, it’s something a municipality could help support.
3.) Waste Free Edmonton’s proposed framework for single use plastics is very well written and thoughtful, and I would support it.
Erin Rutherford
1.) On a personal level, I am constantly thinking about ways to reduce waste in our household. We use reusable grocery and produce bags, dryer balls, and have recently made the switch to laundry detergent to produce less waste. Other actions I take include weekly menu planning to use up perishable items and trying to buy, sell, or pass on to friends and family gently used clothing and toys from buy and sell groups.
Environmental Focus is one of 4 key focuses of my campaign platform. I believe we need to find ways to ensure we are thinking about the future and keeping our environment healthy for generations to come, including waste reduction and green infrastructure. I love The Story Of Stuff – it really highlights some of the system-level and societal changes we need to make when thinking of waste.
2.) In my understanding, our waste management system needs work to support better waste reduction. The waste reduction roadmap is a solid plan. Yet, it will need champions on Council and resources for this aspirational document to be realized.
3.) Yes, I support a Single-Use Plastic Bylaw and have this outlined in my platform here along with other waste reduction ideas to be taken at the municipal-level.
Tyler Zutz
No response.
Ahmed Knowmadic Ali
No response.
Cody Bondarchuk
1.) Reducing waste is an essential action to keep our environment clean and our planet livable. For decades we have been told to “reduce, reuse, and recycle,” yet this is often the extent of government involvement in mitigating waste on a personal level. Much like what exists for industry, bold and targeted regulations are needed to cut down on waste production and divert recyclables from landfills. While each individual person may not greatly contribute to the waste and pollution in our communities, we must think collectively about the problem and what we can do to be part of the solution. Recognizing that industry is responsible for the majority of pollution and waste, this does not negate the need for each of us to do what we can to contribute to a healthier planet.
2.) I am very supportive of the recent changes to the city’s waste management system and the introduction of carts to sort waste. Some of my family lives on Prince Edward Island, and they have been using carts to sort waste from compostable items for decades without much hassle. It helps divert garbage from landfills, saves money, and involves residents more directly in the waste management process. Because it is a fairly new program, I am eager to see how the rollout continues this year and hear what feedback constituents have about how it’s working for them. One change that must be addressed is the introduction of accommodations for Edmontonians who produce medically-necessary waste that may put them over the capacity of the standard bin size. Many people with disabilities live on fixed incomes, yet have more expenses than those without disabilities, and charging for a larger bin or two bins is not equitable. I understand the incentive a lower cost for a smaller cart has in encouraging less waste production, but for those who are unable to reduce waste as a result of their disability, there must be exceptions built into the program.
3.) In short, yes – while there are specific exceptions that must be accommodated for, a standardized set of regulations intended to reduce the prevalence of single-use items is an essential piece of a broader waste reduction strategy. This is also nothing new – governments use these mechanisms to encourage or discourage certain actions already (e.g., additional taxes on cigarettes, fuel levies, grants for high-efficiency lightbulbs and appliances), so doing the same for single-use items makes sense. I support the intent and methods of WFE’s Proposed Framework as a springboard for the city’s eventual bylaw, and appreciate the deliberate inclusion of accommodations for people who require single-use items for medical reasons.
Jon Dziadyk
No response.
Iannie Gerona
Answered.
Zain Hafiz
No response.
Karen Principe
No response.
Andrzej Gudanowski
1.) Ideally, we would find a way to “zero waste”. Like me and my family, all the people of Edmonton; we have a responsibility to the environment around us. By reducing the amount of waste, especially inorganic waste, we reduce the negative impact on the environment, and at the same time, save money.
Usually, we take out trash twice a week, but I still dream sometimes that one day, this obligation will disappear from my list of daily tasks. And although it seems impossible, I’m sure there are people in Edmonton who know how to reduce the amount of waste around their own home.
I am the father of a 6-person family. In my family, in order to reduce the amount of waste, I have introduced some rules that have helped us reduce the amount of weekly waste.
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- In this case, COVID-19 is even helping my family. My family has become more disciplined and responsible. We try to do shopping once a week, on Friday after 8 p.m. or early in the morning on Saturday.
- As a former chef, my knowledge often helps me choose environmentally friendly, biodegradable products. Most of the time, I focus on natural products. I have been learning natural medicine for years, and this knowledge also helps me to keep my environment clean.
- I always have my shopping bags with me. We have 3 recycling bins in the basement, large containers, medium and small. Some of our unnecessary household items, furniture and other items, my wife places an advertisement online, gives it to others for free, or sells it.
2.) I have three points:
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- The city charges too large fees for waste, and does not provide campaigns on how to reduce this waste.
- The city does not take into account that the city has a large number of people and families with low incomes, and that means a poor community with more waste.
- Ideally, everyone should pay for the amount of waste, but how will we check it? It’s easy to do with electricity or gas, but waste takes a lot of effort to find the right solution.
After the three points mentioned above, at the moment I do not see any other reasons to introduce any new changes in municipal waste management.
3.) I am good at other areas, but my knowledge of waste is limited. However, I know that I will always support the city in an effort to reduce waste and harmful substances in the city.
If I were elected, I am ready to take responsibility for cleaning the city of all dirt and hazardous substances.
I will always be ready to work with the city and help create a program to keep the city clean.
Yes, I support and agree with your SUP framework. And if people look at me positively during the elections, I will be ready and willing to help you in every action you take to reduce dirt, plastics and other waste in our city of Edmonton.
Gerard Mutabazi Amani
No response.
Lana Palmer
No response.
Aaron Paquette
No response.
Tricia Velthuizen
No response.
Gino Akbari
1.) As a term, waste can be used interchangeably with garbage, or it can refer to any resource, manufactured or natural, that is discarded or unused when it could be used, reused or repurposed. In the latter sense, being wasteful removes resources, and thus value, from society. Simultaneously, it creates problems that require additional intensive resources to fix, such as the creation of toxins and the destruction of habitats.
The extent to which we waste resources is partly a symptom of a general norm of overconsumption and a focus on newness.
But I think the bigger problem is systemic – individuals will use the processes and products most readily available to them. For instance, if you go grocery shopping and are offered only plastic bags, then most of us will end up using them. If we get takeout and our only option is single-use containers and utensils, we will default to that.
Committed people work everyday to reduce waste, but it is a struggle that requires a deep commitment and planning as it is inconsistent with what is normalized.
To be successful in reducing waste, we need to find ways of changing the system so that we all struggle less with doing the right things.
It is a major problem and one we need to grapple with in the short term to heal the environment.
2) I’m pleased to see the changes that are being introduced. Removing and composting food scraps will be far superior to allowing them to go unused and generate toxins as they sit in our landfill. I think it would be wise for Edmonton to continue to explore additional waste management options. For instance it might be worth looking into donation drives and ‘curbside giveaways’ as additional solutions to keeping useful items out of landfill while serving communities.
3) I do, and I think our reliance on single-use plastics has to change. People make the personal choice not to use them everyday, but they have a huge battle to fight in order to do it. The change has to be a systemic one.
I want to know more about the specific fees attached to the use of single-use plastics being proposed. Why those fees? Where will that money go?
I would like to see investment in greening. Perhaps there is a way to obtain more compostable items to replace single use en masse for a lower cost?
I am always looking to see how we can make our surroundings a more environmentally friendly place. We need it now more than ever.
Transitioning to new bylaws needs to happen with consideration on how it would impact businesses as well.
Gabrielle Battiste
1.) Stewardship of the environment is something for which we share collective responsibility. We individually need to recognize that our choices impact the health of our climate and ecosystems. We need to collectively work to ensure the best possible future for our children and grandchildren far into the future.
On a societal level, there are ways that governments at the local, provincial and federal levels can support, fund and encourage better choices.
As an individual, I can choose to model the behaviour necessary to create sustainable change and minimize waste by eliminating my use of plastic bags; recycling, reusing and upcycling my personal goods; and participating in municipal and provincial programs that promote waste management (blue bins, eco-stations, e-waste recycling, recycling depots, community big-bin events, reuse centres, appropriate waste collection practices, etc).
As a City Councillor, I can choose to actively promote and support changes to bylaws, motions for reporting & transparency and dedicated funding of SMART waste management, reduction, reusing and recycling initiatives & programs that are clear, accessible & financially sound. I can choose to promote Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies.
I encourage volunteering at the Reuse Centre or as a Master Composter Recycler; or taking a tour of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.
2.) The City of Edmonton has a long history of good intentions for better management and reduction of waste. But good intentions have not materialized into effective and efficient results.
As outlined on the City‘s webpage, waste diversion initiatives stretch back to the 1986 curbside recycling pilot conducted by the City.
That pilot was followed by the opening of Eco-Stations (1995), the City’s Materials Recovery Facility (1999), the City’s Composting Facility (purchased from TransAlta in 2001 for $97M), and City Council adopting a goal of diverting 90% of material away from the Landfill in 2007. The City’s Asset Management and Public Works Department in its 2000-2002 Business Plan noted that the 1998 Actual Waste Diverted from the Landfill was 20.8%, and that the long-term target was 90% diversion.
While I applaud the City for approving a 25-Year Waste Management Strategy, this is not the first time bold promises have been made, and actions and results have not followed. As noted in the 2018 Audit of the City!s Waste Services Branch, the City Auditor found that:
- Performance Measurement Framework and its publicly reported performance measures do not provide sufficient and reliable information to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness or efficiency of the City‘s waste processing services.
- Waste Services spending is currently not aligned to the internationally accepted solid waste management hierarchy (which indicates prevention and reuse as the most sustainable methods of waste reduction).
- Business cases did not provide assurance that information presented in the cases was complete, accurate, supported and properly retained.
- Project management practices for the reviewed business cases were not effective in 7 of the 8 project management knowledge areas assessed.
- The City‘s waste processing services components (e.g., composting, separating, processing, and disposal services) do not align with those of other municipalities that also have comprehensive waste reduction or diversion strategies.
- The City does not have effective asset management processes in place, in particular those related to condition assessments and preventative maintenance on building structures.
- Many internal working processes were not documented well or at all.
Furthermore, the Auditor found that the waste diverted from landfills has been trending downwards with a lowest rate of 35.7% in 2016. A far cry from the ambitious goal of 90% diversion just over 10 years earlier, and only 14.9% better than the actual amount of waste diverted 20 years earlier in 1998. We must do better.
What I appreciate in Edmonton’s new Waste Management Strategy is that the engagement has uncovered a widespread and community-based desire to do better. Any public policy that does not have widespread support of impacted stakeholders will be challenging to implement, and it is clear that Edmontonians want to be up to the challenge.
What changes would I advocate for?
I would like the City of Edmonton to lead by example for our 400,000 households. I would like to make our environmental stewardship aspirations clear for our employees, for our citizens, and for others around the Country. I would like the City of Edmonton to be a demonstrated and recognized leader in managing waste by committing to being a Zero Waste organization. Over the last 20 years, you can argue that the City has taken a “do as I say, not as I do” approach to waste management, and I say those days are over. I would ensure that the City‘s Citizen Dashboard reports on the City of Edmonton’s progress towards Zero Waste, not just the Residential Waste Diversion. I would like the City to be overt and transparent with demonstrating leadership. The City of Edmonton is our organization, and quite frankly, we expect better.
I would also recognize that change can be hard. Changing service delivery at a city-wide scale that affects 900,000 citizens is an immense undertaking. As noted in the Waste Strategy, citizens told the City that we wanted Education, Support, Tools and Ease of Use to help us support the program. I would advocate for continued and enhanced public awareness, education and celebration of successes. It is important for everyone to know how this new approach to waste collection is making a positive impact in our community and our world. We need to know that our efforts are meaningful and impactful and make a difference.
I do not want to receive another Audit that shows the same limited progress towards our 90% diversion goal. We’re making these changes for our community, for the environment, and for our future. We‘re in this together and we need to support one another.
3.) Imposing change on a community through regulation has to be accompanied by supports as well as restrictions (i.e. carrots as well as sticks). Any public policy or bylaw that is not widely supported by the public it serves will face resistance and obstacles. Community engagement, change management and supports are needed as well as regulation.
The Proposed Framework does well to specifically prohibit items where there are clear alternatives for use (i.e. plastic bags and Styrofoam packaging), along with a fee for items that could be replaced with reusable items. The fee for service allows consumers to make active choices and creates an incentive to reduce their non-recyclable consumption. This is the same principle as the carbon tax which puts a price on carbon, and uses the revenues generated to reinvest in efforts to reduce GHGs. Sometimes the way to effect behaviour change is through the wallet.
While the framework describes in broad strokes the outlines of a potential Bylaw, as with everything, the devil will be in the details. How will the fee for non-recyclable items be tracked and collected? What is the potential cost of administering the Fee schedule? And what is the proposed use of the fees that are collected and remitted to the City? Will the benefit outweigh the cost? Can there be a direct linkage drawn to the service and/or program that it is funding? Does the City have the authorization under the Municipal Government Act to levy a fee on disposable items sold?
In short, I am supportive of the efforts of Waste Free Edmonton, and am generally in support of the Framework (as I’ve outlined above), and will be excited to explore all the nuances of the City’s legislative authority as the new City of Edmonton Councillor for Ward O’day-min.
Adrian Bruff
1.) I believe it is incumbent on every individual to seek out ways to live and act that support sustainability, which includes everything from responsibly reducing consumption, to recycling our waste. In order to empower our citizens to do so, the City needs to be a leader and invest in making it easy for Edmontonians to act sustainably, and I plan to be an advocate and leader on this issue when I join Council.
2.) What are your thoughts on the City of Edmonton’s waste management system and what changes would you advocate for?
While our Waste management system was once considered state-of-the-art, according to a recent audit a lack of investment to improve our system over the last twenty years has resulted in our goal of diverting 90% of waste from landfills falling to less than 50%. I believe that we have a responsibility to reinvest and improve our waste management system, and return it to being the envy of major municipalities.
3.) First, I believe this framework is an excellent template and captures exactly where the conversation about recycling needs to be. I whole-heartedly support the education, funding, local recycling and infrastructure initiatives, and I also agree that the City should be strongly encouraging businesses to adopt reusables as much as possible.
At this time, my main concern with the framework in its current form is the fee structure, as these costs will be passed on to customers, and I am concerned the burden will fall disproportionately on our constituents least able to afford it, amounting to a regressive tax while we are trying to recover from the economic toll of the pandemic.
Tony Caterina
No response.
Naima Haile
No response.
Bill Knight
No response.
Mohammed Migdaddy
No response.
Adil Pirbhai
Answered.
Anne Stevenson
1.) For many years I thought waste management was about taking personal responsibility. I’ve always been an avid reduce, reuse, and recycler. I went a full year without buying anything new and continue to shop consignment as often as possible. I even have a worm compost bin in the tiny storage closet of my two bedroom condo.
But as much as I care about reducing my consumption and waste, I don’t always get it right. the logistics of reusable diapers was more than I could handle with a newborn and I gave up just a few days into parenthood. Recently, I’ve also been erring on the side of supporting local restaurants, even when that has come at the cost of using disposable containers.
These recent experiences have made it clear to me that we need systemic changes to ensure that waste reduction is built into how our city operates.
2.) I can nerdily confess to having toured the Edmonton Waste Management Centre a number of times in recent years. I always left feeling so inspired at the different waste diversion tactics and was incredibly disappointed to hear that the promise of this facility wasn’t being met, with only about a third of waste avoiding the landfill. I’m excited to see that a number of new investments are being made at the facility and the roll out of the new three-stream collection program is a great start to diverting more waste.
On Council, I would continue to champion these investments, and advocate for accelerated implementation of three-stream waste collection in multi-unit buildings. This is of keen importance to Ward O-day’min where over 75% of residents live in multi-unit buildings and we have access to only one recycling depot and no collective composting facilities.
3.) I fully support Waste Free Edmonton’s proposed Single Use Plastics Bylaw framework. I think it provides a great balance between waste reduction goals and the realities of running a business and living daily life. The proposed framework will make waste reduction automatic, rather than relying on each person or individual business to make a conscious choice.
As City Councillor, I would push for immediate engagement with the business and social service agencies to finalize the details of bylaw’s implementation. A top priority would be ensuring a clear system for the proposed hardship exemptions to avoid adding barriers to new businesses or creating financial hardship for those living on low income. We could potentially look at a regulatory system that requires a shift to reusables once a business has made it through its first year of operations. Funding could also be provided to distribute reusables through social service agencies.
I would also be keen to explore a range of complimentary approaches, for example programs that provide businesses with a reduction in waste collection fees if they move to a fully reusable model. There could also be great opportunities for social enterprises around reusable plates and cups in our city core. If the industrious kids at FolkFest have taught us anything, it’s that there is money to be made in plate deposits.
This sort of systemic shift to making waste reduction a default choice will help us get closer to a waste free Edmonton.
Ibrahim Wado
No response.
Joshua Wolchansky
No response.
Rob Bernshaw
No response.
Abdulhakim Dalel
No response.
Liz John-West
No response.
Brian Kendrick
No response.
Daniel John Kornak
No response.
James Kosowan
1.) As someone who lives in a net-zero home, obviously I have a deep concern for the environment and how our activities impact the planet. Personally, I believe there is a tremendous amount of goodwill by people who want to reduce their waste. Government can play a leading role in this by providing education, but also by imposing regulations and restrictions to curb the production of excess packaging and encourage alternatives.
2.) I know that the city is embarking on a huge overhaul of its waste collection system. They are projecting to increase waste diversion quite substantially over the course of the next few years. Although I agree with the premise upon which this strategy is based, I do think more emphasis could be made (and education) to encourage backyard composting, which would lessen the need for trucking this organic matter out of neighbourhoods in the first place. Also, I think there is a lot more potential for waste reduction and their goals in this area are less than inspiring. For example, what might the city do to help to foster bulk shopping options for its citizens? Other than banning single-use plastics, what measures could be implemented to alter consumer and corporate behaviour?
3.) I do support a strategy for banning / limiting single-use plastics and other disposable items. Waste-Free Edmonton’s proposed framework seems like a solid step in achieving the goals of a zero-waste society.
Cori Longo
1.) I think waste reduction is absolutely imperative at both a personal and societal level. We have to take climate change and the environment into consideration with every decision we make.
2.) I think the new waste collection system is a good start, but there is a lot of recyclable material that is still going into our waste management system. I would advocate for better recycling programmes, a ban on single use plastics, and would work with organizations and City Administration to find the best solutions for our city as a whole.
3.) Yes, I support the proposed framework. We need immediate action on climate change, and work towards eliminating single use plastics is a crucial step.
Caroline Matthews
No response.
Salar Melli
Answered.
Ashley Salvador
Answered.
Steven Townsend
No response.
Giselle General
1.) I’ve lived in different countries and different types of settings, urban and rural, and I would say that the cultural environment people live in as well as economic realities influences waste reduction. Normalizing strategies for waste reduction, and being supportive of the realities of inconveniences that come with waste reduction strategies can help with making people do these more regularly. In the small village in the Philippines where I grew up, it’s normal to have a stinky bucket for organics at the end of our row of houses because that’s the proper way to handle organics. Plastic juice boxes are cleaned and quilted together for shopping bags or shredded as filler for decorative pillows. Cans and bottles are turned into lanterns. Scarcity and cost of items also pushes people to manage waste. That is the challenge of being in a country like Canada, and particularly in the cities where many items are in abundance, convenience is highly prioritized, and brand new or single-use items are perceived as cleaner.
That being said, I am grateful for the proper disposal system for items like furniture, paint and electronics as they are hazardous. E-waste is an emerging problem that needs to be addressed on a global level. There is debate on how much individual action and government policy should be used. I think one component that is missing is endorsement and modeling of people who have influence in society. People are likely to resist new rules as they feel these are impositions from decision makers who don’t understand the impacts, or won’t help people along in the adjustment phase. For instance, I already use fabric bags that I made myself using old clothes, for shopping. Highlighting these activities can help normalize such behaviours and even inspire change. With that said, for a place like Edmonton where people move here at different ages and stages of life, either from other parts of the province, country, and the world, the different perspectives and habits of such a diverse group should be considered in implementing waste management strategies.
2.) I think that overall, the waste management system from the perspective of an average Edmontonian is alright.
The one suggestion I was initially going to propose is the introduction of a bin for organics, which as of today, is now being implemented and I’m excited. As a newcomer to Canada who lived in Ontario and got used to separating organics, I was disappointed to discover that Edmonton didn’t have the same program.
The other suggestion I have is to be transparent about the actual diversion rates. Being blindsided by learning our waste management is not as great as we think it is, causes distrust.
My final recommendation is to encourage more opportunities to salvage items. For instance, promoting programs to donate functional but old electronics to charitable causes. Another untapped opportunity is finding ways to tap into the creative community in Edmonton in helping the recycle/upcycle mission. I am a volunteer seamstress for Boomerang Bags YEG, a team that sews fabric bags from donated fabric, gives these to local businesses to give to customers for free. I’m sure bag-sewing sessions to help make bags and to give away bags would be a fun way to highlight the issue of waste management. Buy Nothing Groups are also emerging, and I am a member of my neighbourhood’s group.
3.) Regarding your proposed single-used plastics bylaw, I think it is good overall. I have a few suggestions.
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- Encourage innovation in the business community that focus on the waste management sector. For example, if there is a company that wants to turn donated fabric into a recycled alternative to home insulation, or plastic bottle caps into plastic pellets for the shipping industry they should be given priority support.
- Regarding the Take a Bag, Leave A Bag, to add one additional statement: Build partnerships with local fabric upcycling groups (like Boomerang Bags Edmonton) to give them capacity and liaise with businesses for them to get supplied with bags.
Even with my recommendations, I am supportive of your bylaw proposal, and I’m happy to do whatever I can to positively inspire people with the change.
Sarah Hamilton
No response.
Scott Hayes
1.) Edmonton needs to fight for the protection of our environment. We are all obligated to play a role in the changing climate and ever-diversifying communities in our city both on a personal and social level. I believe that we need to get the federal and provincial governments on board. This will aid us in environmental protection.
2.) I support the 25 year waste strategy, but I believe that the waste cart system was not introduced appropriately. We have a very diverse culture in the city of Edmonton and this creates setbacks for some of our community members. Although, nothing that cannot be fixed with a few minor changes.
3.) I support new innovation and strategy to create needed environmental change. We have the ability to become a leader in waste reduction for other cities and provinces to follow.
Derek Hlady
No response.
Daniel Heikkinen
1.) I can’t think of anyone who would be against reducing waste, from ensuring that less material is going into our landfills, to reducing the amount of packaging that is being used, meaning that less raw material is required to produce said packaging. We should also be honest with ourselves about the efficacy of recycling, such as plastics, which aren’t recycled so much as downcycled. We not only need to reduce overall waste, but ensure that any single use items are compostable and break down, so that while they can’t be recycled, they can decompose properly with little to zero negative impact on the environment.
2.) I do not know of any current issues with the City of Edmonton waste system or what changes are required, without first getting to look behind the curtain and see what methods are being used and how decisions are being made. Only after seeing the how can we figure out if we are actually having the impact we desire, or if we need to reconsider our processes.
3.) I would be in favor of using this proposal as a framework, I appreciate that it realizes that there is a cost that is normally externalized onto other people. By creating a small fee, it is not enough to bankrupt someone but hopefully makes them cognizant of their behavior and alters it accordingly. Also, realizing that some support will be needed to those people and organizations that wouldn’t have the means to adjust quickly realizes the fiscal limitations people face as we try to move quickly on resolving problems. I think what I appreciate the most is that it is focused on how and what, instead of empty platitudes with no focus.
Haruun Ali
Answered.
James Cameron
No response.
Susan Field
Kirsten Goa
Answered.
Michael Janz
Answered.
Jim Rickett
No response.
Tarcy Schindelka
Answered.
Byron Vass
1.) For the last ten years I’ve been working in the waste management industry and as a result waste reduction has become a significant part of my life. My partner and I actively try to find ways to reduce our household waste through composting, buying bulk with reusable containers, using reusable shopping bags and produce bags, and eliminating plastic wrap and aluminum foil from our house. This strategy has seen our household waste drop significantly, a fact that we share with our friends and family as much as possible to try to get them to take similar steps. The reason we put so much effort into reducing our waste is because of the significant impact waste has on our environment. The importance of waste reduction is increasing as our population and impact on our planet grows. A shift in our society’s views on waste reduction is required as too much importance is put on recycling, when we now know that the key to waste reduction lies in the other two Rs, Reduce and Reuse.
2.) There was a point in time when Edmontonians could be proud of our waste management system, but unfortunately due to poor investment and an inability to adapt, our system is currently severely inadequate. The new roll-out of the household composting is a step in the right direction and hopefully it is successful. I am a bit disappointed in the cost difference between the two garbage bin sizes. There should be a higher cost for a larger bin to try and incentivize households to reduce waste more significantly.
I was also happy to see new rules coming out for multi-family buildings requiring recycling and composting options. These changes are long overdue and necessary as our city looks to add more high-density living options.
One thing I would like to see our city and province fight for is more regulation on packaging at the manufacturer level, possibly using an EPR model. We need to reduce our reliance on the costly recycling and encourage reduction in paper and packaging. This issue is only going to grow as online sales increase, something anyone who has ordered from Amazon is all too familiar with.
3.) Yes. The ease of single-use items ensures that without proper incentives or restrictions they will be sticking around for good. The framework proposed by Waste Free Edmonton is fair and reasonable. I particularly appreciate the flexibility to understand some individuals may still require these single-use items. Just by making single-use items something that has to be requested instead of always included will greatly reduce waste.
Tim Cartmell
No response.
Guiscela Perez Arellano
1.) We need to work as individuals in conjunction with other levels of government and institutions to reduce our carbon footprint.
Our society is structured to be “disposable” from big purchase items, such as electronics, appliances or vehicles, to simple things such as coffee cups and take out. Systemic change needs to happen.
a.) Create products that have longer life spans, are repairable at a reasonable cost, and if not then certainly ways to repurpose and/or recycle.
b.) We use plastics and one-time things such as coffee cups and take them out without a thought. This requires a process of rethinking by consumers and a refocus on business owners; consumers need to bring their own coffee mugs (when safely allowed with COVID) as an example. For businesses that use one-time products, such as take out, ensure they are using recyclable and compostable products along with a message to consumers to compost and recycle.
c.) Real change will come with education, options, and systemic change moving forward. This will require collaboration from many stakeholders, not just locally, but globally, for changing personal habits, business models, products, and more.
2.) Garbage collection and the new cart rollout are areas of improvement, as every change has a learning curve. Even though I think this is a great initiative, it also needs tweaking. We need to listen to our neighbours in our communities to understand different needs and to be patient as change comes with resistance. It is important to get real feedback down the road and make necessary changes to be effective and financially feasible. Also, we need to ensure proper information is communicated often so people will understand what the changes are, what they need to do, and soon that will become a habit.
Products like compostable paper bags for food scraps need to be affordable and readily available for Edmontonians in order for them to properly use the composting program now in place.
3.) We need to work as individuals in conjunction with other levels of government and institutions to reduce our carbon footprint. We need to work together with businesses to ensure they are able to comply and do not face unfair or unnecessary financial hardship.
Allowing them to have input and offering proper channels for feedback will help ensure effective policies that support all businesses as well as create green initiatives moving forward.
Creating incentives for businesses to use green products and/or retrofit their businesses to comply would be a step forward in ensuring compliance, fairness, and creating a green city.
Jason Carter
No response.
Rhiannon Hoyle
1.) I believe very much in the importance of waste reduction personally and at home. As the mother of two children, I take my responsibility to lead by example very seriously. In our family, we do our own organic gardening, composting, recycling, and waste reduction wherever possible. We like to give back to our community through gardening to tackle food insecurity. I want my children to have an Edmonton that is green and beautiful for many years to come. Also, I strongly support waste reduction at a societal level. I believe that everyone – including individuals, businesses, and political leaders – has a role to play in protecting the environment.
2.) I think that Edmonton has great potential to be a leader in waste management. I do not think that we are currently reaching that full potential, but I commend the efforts that individuals, businesses, and the City are making to get there. For example, the City has recently been piloting the new bin program and waste collection technology improvements. Efforts like this to improve the efficiency of waste diversion are the kind of thing I would like to contribute to during my time on City Council. I believe that one important aspect of waste management that City Council needs to fully address is composting. Community efforts and other local solutions may be a way forward, but a city-wide composting program (done well and minimizing odour) would greatly benefit Edmontonians and our environment.
3.) I am in support of limiting our city’s use of single-use plastics, provided that sustainable alternatives are made available. We need to critically consider who will bear the cost associated with any policies or bylaws enacted. Sustainable choices are often expensive for businesses and individuals, meaning that people who have less are often left out of practicing sustainability in conventional ways. I would want to ensure that the City Council was considerate of the financial implications of SUP bans, while recognizing that measures are absolutely needed to ensure that our planet is not the one bearing the cost of our activities and economy.
In terms of WFE’s SUP Framework, I am not at this point ready to endorse it, but I hope you will understand why. I wholeheartedly believe that each area of the framework is important, and I can tell that the desired end result (the elimination of these various wasteful products) is something I agree with and want to fight for. But important context is missing from this framework. I am referring to what I mentioned above, which is an examination of who will bear the cost and how. I would like to explore more ways that incentives for good environmental practices can be used rather than disincentives for negative practices. Levying a charge for a container, for example, is just one way to move towards their discontinued use. But how effective will it be? No doubt it would have some effect, but will it create the systemic change we need to achieve in order to curb the climate crisis? I want to see changes that will bring about long-lasting, effective change that does not punish Edmontonians. I would like to emphasize, finally, that I believe that this framework is a good start, and I agree with the desired outcomes. At the end of the day, I am looking forward to inevitable discussions at City Council on our best way to achieve these outcomes.
Scott Johnston
No response.
Glynnis Lieb
1.) I think waste reduction is imperative. The degree to which we have become accustomed to using excessively and disposing instead of reusing, repairing, or even recycling is alarming. We need a sharp pivot in what is viewed as socially acceptable when it comes to using disposable items.
2.) I have significant concerns about the public-private partnership model that is being used currently to manage waste in the city. I also don’t believe our recycling program is as robust as it could be. Finally, I would like to see composting be considered an integral part of waste management, promoted, and made accessible to the general public.
3.) I do very much support your attached framework. Like so many changes, people will be resistant but can adapt quite easily. We need to take drastic measures and we have to be willing to change our habits if we’re going to do more than just lip service to address climate change.
Jon Morgan
1.) There has to be a greater understanding of the waste we create and the resources we utilize. Overall I am happy with our current processes. A focus on sustainability in personal waste with the new bin and compost bin rollout is a good move that puts the onus on residents to realize the amount of waste being produced and better disposal of said waste. I believe we need to do more and can do more.
2.) I’d like to see greater investment and thought put into recycling, reusables, and compostables in businesses. The City of Edmonton has implemented the new garbage bins without a lot of thought put into how businesses are going to implement the same. Restaurants, retail, manufacturing, offices, and industrial all need to be included in our solutions to reduce our waste. Without business the work is incomplete. Edmonton frontline businesses (retail, restaurants, etc) need to further be encouraged to follow much of the SUP framework developed by Waste Free Edmonton.
3.) I support implementing a city-wide strategy restricting single-use items. Waste Free Edmonton’s proposed Framework is a good starting point for this with many of the points within it easy to implement with little transition cost to business. Again, we need to have a better understanding of and be more responsible for the waste that we produce, especially now as we are living through the early stages of climate change.
I support the SUP framework as a basis for further work. I appreciate it’s acknowledgement and connections made around poverty, education, transition times for business, and charity with the SUP framework. More thought could be put into compostables for fast food businesses and their eat-in and takeout containers. I’m happy to endorse this framework as a basis for further development of the City of Edmonton’s own policy.
Jennifer Rice
No response.
Muhammed Herman Gill
No response.
Sana Kakar
No response.
Charan Saggu
No response.
Tom Shaw
1.) I believe it is very important for our city to be a leader and work with our manufacturing, development, transportation, and agricultural industries, collaborate further with our Federal and Provincial Governments for a unified approach, and partner with our educational institutions all to provide even more public outreach, create ease in our reduction initiatives, and incentivize waste reduction strategies.
Personally, my family has a front yard vegetable garden, we compost, are cognizant of diverting building materials from landfill, consistently use reusable containers, and through my community league I’ve led the promotion of a garden club and the move towards the creation of a community garden.
2.) It’s evident that the current system is not working. The ideas surrounding our composting and recycling facilities are viable, but operationally are not producing the results we’ve strived towards or even advertised. As with many initiatives, projects, and programs brought forth by the city, there is a real lack of meaningful engagement with our communities, leading to poor planning, and then improper execution. This is where we will get buy-in, hear of our challenges, what will actually work for us, and what we need in our services to create consistency in our contribution.
3. ) I support a plan for the reduction of single-use items developed through meaningful engagement with our residents and stakeholders outlined in previous questions. Without understanding the complexities to how the fees were determined, and the direct impact on our less fortunate, marginalized, and businesses during our current financial times, it is difficult to endorse at this time. Our “start” needs to be concentrating on our infrastructure processing our recyclables, create tangible results, then move forward with plans like this for further development.
Keren Tang
1.) As a society, I believe we need to move towards more circular, sustainable approaches to our economy, where we focus on waste prevention and reduction and begin with the end in mind when we design products and put them out into the world.
Personally, my family and I are always striving to reduce our waste through second hand shopping, recycling, and reusing; purchasing goods with recycled packaging; and cooking meals at home to reduce takeout waste. I am looking forward to receiving our own carts this summer as part of the City’s new waste collection system and to continuing my compost skills for my home garden to further reduce waste.
2.) I support the 25-Year Waste Strategy adopted by the City of Edmonton, and am encouraged by the shift in thinking it represents by adopting a Zero Waste framework where waste reduction is the primary focus.
I think in recent years we have fallen behind and can do better with our waste management in Edmonton. I’m excited about a few particular points in the 25-Year Waste Strategy that move us forward, namely the implementation of a cart-based curbside cart collection system that includes organics, focused efforts on the Institutional, Commercial and Light Industrial sectors, efforts around single use items and extended producer responsibility.
In addition to supporting policy tools to support zero waste, I would take a people-centred approach, supporting and connecting people, and finding opportunities to enable local, creative and place-based solutions that pair waste materials and people and spark innovation and community-building. The Edmonton Tool Library is a great local example of this. Participatory City in London UK, and Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk in Halifax are also inspiration from other jurisdictions for these place-based innovations. In fact, the latter two examples are the focus of my current day job in systems change and partnerships to build social and civic infrastructure. Infrastructure such as neighbourhood shopfronts and makerspaces that foster peer-to-peer learning in practical everyday projects not only bring neighbours together across differences but also cultivate a circular economy of local goods, materials, knowledge, and relationship at the block and community levels.
Waste reduction is not only in the environmental and societal best interests of the city, but the financial interests of the city too – it’s a win-win.
3.) Yes, I support the implementation of a bylaw to restrict single use items.
I would want to ensure this bylaw meets or exceeds the requirements in the upcoming Government of Canada single use plastics ban and aligns with the City’s 25-Year Waste Strategy. I appreciate the amount of research and advocacy that Waste Free Edmonton has done to advance this issue, and I would certainly be open to hearing more from Waste Free Edmonton as such a bylaw or policy is being developed.
Shamair Turner
Answered.
Moe Banga
No response.
Jasbir Singh Gill
No response.
Harman Kandola
No response.
Sanjay Malhotra
No response.
Mukesh Mukwana
No response.
Rashpal Sehmby
Answered.
Jo-Anne Wright
No response.
