Episode #03: The backstage of packaging end-of-life and its collaboration needs

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Episode #03: Podcast Show Notes

Introduction

Would you like to know Where your packaging ends up for real? What kind of packaging is the easiest to manage in the recycling streams? And what kind of collaboration should we build even more? This is what this episode will cover! 

Our today’s guest is Louise Schwarz, the co-founder and co-owner of Recycling Alternative, a Vancouver based business. Thanks to her leadership and work in the field, she already won 3 awards related to sustainability and community, and a fourth one rewarded her whole team as the best Community Impact in BC in 2018. I love Louise’s communicative energy and I hope that this episode will inspire you as well.

Louise's recommended resources for you, our audience

Where to find Louise and what she is doing

The Recycling Alternative website: https://recyclingalternative.com/

The recognition mentioned in the intro:

  • The ‘YWCA Woman of Distinction Award’, for Environmental Sustainability, in May 2012

  • The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 

  • The City of Vancouver’s Award of Excellence for Greenest City Leadership in 2014. 

  • BC Small Business Award for “The Best Community Impact” in 2018 

Little note

"The blue box" is the bin used to collect source-separated household waste materials for the purpose of recycling. In Canada, the blue box programs are run by the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and, depending on municipalities, might accept such as most paper materials, some plastic packaging, glass containers, aluminum cans, and steel cans.

About Louise Schwarz from Recycling Alternative

Louise Schwarz is the co-founder and co-owner of Recycling Alternative, a Vancouver based business providing recycling and waste reduction services throughout the Lower Mainland since 1989. Together with business partner Robert Weatherbe, the company has garnered a reputation for community collaborations and innovative approaches to waste diversion and local recovery through models such as the Vancouver Biodiesel Co-operative, Food Scrap Drop Spots, Zero Waste Events, Recycle In Strathcona, and opening the greenHUB, Vancouver’s first recycling co-location facility in 2014 with community partner, DTES non-profit bottle depot, United We Can. 
Louise sits on the Management Board of the National Zero Waste Council, Encorp’s Community Advisory Committee and Downtown Community Court’s Advisory Council, Share Reuse Repair’s Steering Committee and co-chairs Urban Core’s Executive Committee. Louise is currently working with community partners and local, circular, innovator SME’s (Small Medium Enterprises) to create a green and circular employment district in Vancouver’s False Creek Flats.

Podcast music

Special thanks to Joachim Regout who made the jingle. Have a look at his work here.

I am happy to bring a sample of our strong bonds on these sound waves. Since I was a child, he made me discover a wide range of music of all kinds. I am also delighted he is a nature lover and shares the Look4Loops 'out of the box philosophy'. He is an inspiring source of creativity for me.

Colienne Regout