There are many types of waste, and a variety of steps that you can take to help Edmonton (and Edmontonians) become a leader in waste reduction. While improving your own waste reduction practices is important, there are many ways that you get get involved and help create change on a broader scale.
Join Waste Free Edmonton in our Lawn Transformation Campaign!
Waste Free Edmonton is launching an exciting new initiative to help transform the way we look at lawns. For more information, or to get involved, please go to our Lawn Transformation page here.
Continue to Support the Single-Use Item Bylaw!
Waste Free Edmonton has been advocating for a comprehensive single-use item bylaw in Edmonton since January 2018. While it was a long road, our efforts to-date have been effective. After years of advocacy, in July 2023, the City of Edmonton’s Single-use Bylaw came into effect. While the Bylaw does not reflect all of recommendations contained in WFE’s proposed framework, it is nonetheless tailored, well thought out, and reasonable. Most importantly, we believe that it is having a real and substantial impact on the reduction of waste in Edmonton. But the work towards reducing SUI waste in Edmonton is not over.
What can you do?
We encourage you to show your support for the SUIs bylaw in Edmonton by sending an email to city councilors asking them to keep and/or expand the Bylaw. This is particularly important as we have seen pushback from a vocal minority in Calgary that lead to a repeal of their bylaw.
You can also help businesses adapt to the Bylaw. If you see a business that is not complying, help educate them on what they could be doing differently, and why. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, then let the City of Edmonton know through 311, and the City will reach out and educate them. Or send us an email letting us know!
If you are interested in getting more involved as a volunteer with Waste Free Edmonton, you can view our current volunteer opportunities here.
You can also sign-up for our mailing list to get updates about our work and ways you can support our efforts by emailing info@wastefree.ca.
Finally, as a grassroots volunteer-run organization we appreciate any financial contributions you are able to make to support our work.
Green Recovery
Waste Free Edmonton is a non-profit grassroots organization focusing on local waste issues, but waste cannot be addressed in isolation. We must tackle our waste problem in a systemic and holistic manner. That means recognizing that our waste problem is interconnected with numerous other environmental, human health, and social justice issues. Waste is not just an environmental problem – it is a human health, social justice and economic problem as well! For example, the way we create and “manage” waste can have negative impacts on human health (hello microplastics!), often disproportionately and inequitably impact the health and safety of marginalized populations, and can be an economic burden. That means that when we consider solutions to our waste problem, we should think about whether those solutions support or hamper efforts to address other related human health, social justice and economic issues. We can address waste-related issues in a way that advances those other important issues. COVID-19 provides an opportunity to step back and find new and creative solutions that are intersectional and advance multiple priorities at the same time, including ensuring safety, security, and wellness for all.
Other organizations are pushing our elected officials to prioritize a equitable, green recovery. We’ve signed on — please visit the organizations below and add your own signature.
Write Your MLA
As important as it is to contact our local councillors with our thoughts and demands on waste, some topics on waste require reaching out to your provincial officials. From implementing a progressive extended producer responsibility program to ensuring our waterways are free of microplastics and industrial waste, your MLA is the best person to contact for issues that affect all of Alberta.
Find your MLA at this website. https://streetkey.elections.ab.ca/
Business Templates
Support A Business
Not every business does waste reduction the same way, but all ways to reduce waste are appreciated. Letting your favourite business know how you feel about the choices they make to reduce waste helps encourage sustainable thinking, promotes corporate social responsibility, and spreads gratitude. Whether it’s a Twitter DM or an email to their business, a quick message of support is all that’s needed. The best messages are personal, so we can’t provide templates for every business, but we have some tips:
- Have you made shopping at this business a routine?
- How do you feel leaving a store that has encouraged sustainable shopping?
- Has a store/restaurant introduced you to a waste free idea you weren’t previously aware of?
- Have you told family or friends about this store/restaurant?
- How has your experience at this store affected your shopping decisions elsewhere?
- Have you noticed a reduction in the waste you generate?
