The Calgary ReNews Edition Summer 2010
Some interesting stories about Urban Impact's growth and our commitment to the environment.
ARTICLE
Calgary Could Lead The Way In Construction & Demolition Waste Diversion
By Nicole Stefenelli
Construction and demolition waste accounts for about 25% of the municipal solid waste sent to landfills in Alberta. It’s estimated that no more than 10% of all C&D waste materials are currently being recycled. Alberta currently leads the nation in terms of waste disposal per capita: well over one tonne per person! But by reducing the amount of construction and demolition waste, we can dramatically reduce our wasteful practices! (In future articles I’ll discuss other ways on how we can personally reduce our waste…)
In recent years numerous workshops were held with building contractors, engineers, architects, government officials to discuss a formal C&D recycling program. In 2008, a Memorandum of understanding was between Alberta Environment, The Alberta Construction Association, and The Canadian Home Builders Association Alberta to work together developing a provincial C&D waste reduction program.
The Memorandum has been tabled in Legislature for two years now, but now it is anticipated that final Act Amendments will be passed when Legislature goes back into session this fall.
The construction and building industries are supportive and ready. The recyclers [such as Urban Impact] and material processors are ready, and the municipalities, such as The City of Calgary, are excited to be able to divert more waste from landfills. Alberta Environment has the program framework in place and the program has actually already been publicly announced.
So, this exciting program is just around the corner. The pressure is on government to push this program through at the next Legislature session. What can you do in the meantime? Write to your provincial and municipal government officials and let them know how important this is to you so the Memorandum doesn’t get tabled again!
Check back at this link for upcoming notices at Alberta Environment or http://environment.alberta.ca/02794.html or at Recycling Council of Alberta http://www.recycle.ab.ca/ and to read more about Alberta's Waste Reduction plans, download Too Good To Waste at http://environment.alberta.ca/01759.html
Sincerely,
Nicole Stefenelli
President, Urban Impact Calgary
URBAN RECYCLING
Working with Recycling Councils On Both Sides of the Rockies
As many of you know, we’ve always been very active in the Recycling Council of British Columbia. And with our expansion into Calgary, we’ve also joined The Recycling Council of Alberta. We wrote a greetings article for their newsletter in June and we’ll be working with the RCA on school education programs during Waste Reduction week this October as well other public education and PR initiatives this fall. For more information, visit www.recycle.ab.ca
Urban Impact Sponsors Filmmakers’ Ride From Vancouver to Calgary
Urban Impact sponsored the Clean Bin Project and Clean Bin Movie this May and June with a $2500 donation to support filmmakers Jen and Grant on the biking film tour from Vancouver to Calgary. That’s right, after their world premiere in Vancouver of The Bin Project on May 29th, the documentary filmmakers rode the bikes to Calgary, with numerous stops along the way to screen their film. Urban Impact was there in spirit to give them helping hand along the way, and Nicole Stefenelli gave opening remarks at the Calgary Film Premiere on June 24th.
Jen and Grant continue their cross-Canada bike film tour, which will finishes in Halifax! This is a fantastic film and an inspiring initiative about doing so much with so little. Read more at cleanbinmovie.com and cleanbinproject.org
Bosses tossed In The Dunk Tank!
On July 16th, Urban Impact celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a fantastic a staff party at Urban headquarters in Richmond. With perfect sunny weather, tents set up in the yard and a catered BBQ dinner, the highlight of the party was indeed the dunk tank!
Urban Impact founder, Nicole, was the first to hop into the dunk tank and as you can imagine, employees lined up to purchase 3 balls for $5! [Money went towards draw prizes!] Co-founder Rod then did the honours, followed by Mark Popp, Operations Supervisor.
Nicole gave a lovely speech to thank all the employees for their hard work and for contributing to the company’s growth and success over the years. Nicole and Rod also honored Mark Popp for his 10+ years with the company with a weekend getaway in Tofino and a chartered plane to the hot springs.
More than 50 employees, alumni and special guests enjoyed the festivities. Each guest received a custom Urban Impact 20th Anniversary designed shirt as a take home gift.Giving Back to Our Communities
Urban Impact is celebrating its 20th year in business this year by giving back to the communities we work in each month in themes of 20’s. Some of the initiatives including paying the registration fees for 20 kids for Kid Sport BC in June, sending 20 kids to YMCA summer camp this month, sponsoring 20 acres of Rainforest in Costa Rica in August, registering 20 kids to play in Coastal Squash League in September, and planting 20 large trees in Delta in October and more! Stay tuned on Twitter to hear more!
URBAN SHREDDING
Don't Get Skimmed!
Summer holiday season and long weekends especially, such as Alberta Day long weekend, tend to bring out the ‘skimmers’: identity theft and fraud criminals who place card reading devices in ATMs at bars, restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores etc. Basically, these card reading devices can be placed in just about any ATM machine except for at most bank branch ATMs. So to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft and from having your account skimmed, make sure to use an actual bank branch ATM, which has a security camera, when withdrawing cash from your account!
For more tips on how to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft, visit Office of the Privacy Commissioner http://www.priv.gc.ca/fs-fi/02_05_d_10_e.cfm
URBAN SOLUTIONS
Urban Impact Chosen as Top Private Sector Business in BC
On May 27th, Urban Impact was selected by Recycling Council of BC for the Private Sector Award for Environmental Leadership. The coveted award has been previously won by BC giants such as Staples and London Drugs who have taken huge leadership steps in environmental programs. For more information, visit www.rcbc.bc.ca.
Nicole Stefenelli Selected by Ernst & Young For Entrepreneur of The Year
On July 6, Nicole was selected as a Pacific Finalist by EY. Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes high-achieving entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world who drive growth, transform industries and build communities. The Canadian program is in its 17th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business.
The names of the Pacific winners will be announced at a gala banquet in Vancouver on September 28, and the overall winner will represent the region at the national banquet in Toronto on November 17. http://www.ey.com/CA/en/About-us/Entrepreneur-Of-The-Year/2010-EOY-finalists-Pacific--Link-
NEWS
Urban Impact is featured in Calgary Herald http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Making+something+almost+nothing/3232541/story.html
Urban Impact’s Calgary Expansion as heard in The Herald Eco Buzz
http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Buzz/3226098/story.html
Pick up the next edition of Green Space Alberta http://www.greenspacebc.com to read more about Urban Impact’s expansion into Calgary
BLOG POLL
Would you be willing to bring a re-useable container to a restaurant for your take out?
If you're in a restaurant, how far will you go to reduce, recycle and re-use? Fill our latest Blog Poll at Urbanimpact.com/blog
Urban Impact is on Twitter!
Follow Nicole at www.twitter.com/nstefenelli for updates on local waste management, recycling, and sustainable comments and issues.
Are you on Facebook?
Stay up to date with Urban Impact on our Facebook fan page. We’ll be posting videos, photos and the latest UI news on the page. And we want to hear from you! We are having great discussion on Facebook on the hottest waste management and environmental issues. Come join the conversation! Please encourage all your Facebook friends to be our fans.
And don’t forget our Blog
Keep up with the latest on Urban Impact thoughts, news and events, and make your comments on our blog!
