More than two dozen local business representatives attended a plastics forum last month in Roberts Creek.
The forum consisted of presentations from a variety of speakers on the impacts of plastics and their management in the waste and recycling streams.
Rhiannon Moore, a researcher with Ocean Wise Plastics Lab, shared pictures and stories of the many negative impacts of plastics on the marine environment.
Robyn Cooper, manager of Sunshine Coast Regional District solid waste programs, and Silas White, a consultant to the Town of Gibsons, spoke about an emerging plastic bags bylaw.
Krysta Powers, regional manager of Waste Management, provided information on the complexities of plastics recycling and plastic waste management.
Lauren Krzus, a marine educator with Ocean Ambassadors Canada, shared how the community of Horseshoe Bay has eliminated plastic bags from its stores.
“The presentations left the participants with a much clearer picture of the impacts of plastics in the environment and the many challenges of managing it, either as waste or in the recycling stream,” said Naomi Fleschhut, a volunteer with the committee organizing the event. “They also heard success stories about alternatives to plastics and how other communities are eliminating them.”
A number of practical ideas emerged from discussions following the presentations. These included the need to better educate consumers and business owners, to improve commercial recycling on the Coast, the opportunities for businesses to coordinate the purchase of alternatives to plastics, the growing presence of shops offering refillable containers for household products, and the need for recycling on the Horseshoe Bay to Langdale ferry route.
The volunteer committee will be following up with all participants to encourage the implementation of ideas that were identified. It also plans to host a similar forum for the public in the spring.
In addition to the Sechelt Downtown Business Association, the forum was supported by the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation, the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, and the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization.
– Submitted
