Today, we are going to examine the Kitchener climate crisis and how local businesses can help by signing up for the Office Compost Program.
In late June 2019, Kitchener City Council unanimously declared a climate emergency to highlight the need to take strong action in reducing greenhouse gases that are warming the planet.
Businesses are a significant contributor to climate change, and the Office Compost Program is a simple way to start helping reduce the effects of global warming.
Let’s take a closer look at the Kitchener climate crisis, and what you can do to help at the office. Let’s jump right in!
Kitchener Climate Crisis
What You Need To Know
In June 2019, Kitchener City Council unanimously voted to declare a climate emergency.
In so doing, the Southern Ontario city joined 400 other Canadian municipalities in highlighting the urgent need for strong action in addressing the threat posed by climate change, according to The Record.
“The declaration follows the city’s approval of a corporate climate action plan in April, a detailed strategy to align city operations with the greenhouse gas emission targets of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global average temperature increases to 1.5 C.”
The motion to declare a climate emergency was put forward by Ward 7 Coun. Bill Ioannidis, who said “Council’s unanimous approval of the motion sends a strong message that we must continue to diligently consider the environmental repercussions of our every decision.”
“Kitchener prides itself on being a forward-thinking and innovative city,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “It was encouraging to see that reflected in the continued advocacy by council and community groups on this critical issue. All of our progress in building a better city for our children is at risk of being undone if we fail to appropriately react to this challenge.”
Kitchener's Corporate Climate Action Plan is a detailed strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is an absolute reduction of emissions of 8% by 2026.
Watch this video to learn more about the Kitchener climate crisis
How You Can Help
As part of this declaration, Kitchener is urging local businesses and individuals to actively look for ways to reduce their negative environmental impact.
Businesses and corporations are a significant contributor to climate change, and need to start taking steps to rectify this for the generations to come.
One significant way local businesses can reduce their carbon footprints is through the Office Compost Program
Throughout the Region of Waterloo, businesses don't have access to any formal method of organic waste disposal.
This means that all waste is put into the garbage and sent to the landfill - even food waste. Why is this a problem?
Reducing food waste is one of the most important things we can do to reverse global warming, according to a recent article from The Washington Post.
When food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane - a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide, says the World Wildlife Fund: “About 11% of all the greenhouse gas emissions that come from the food system could be reduced if we stop wasting food. In the US alone, the production of lost or wasted food generates the equivalent of 37 million cars’ worth of greenhouse gas emissions.”
Your business can, therefore, make a big difference by diverting food waste from landfills by way of the Office Compost Program.
Our Green Bins are kept clean and can be placed proudly in your office kitchen
How The Office Compost Program Works
To begin, you will receive a Green Bin to collect all your organic waste and compostable materials. All the same items that you would toss into your bin at home can be put in the Green Bin in the office.
That includes:
All food scraps including bones, peelings, shells, baking and cooking ingredients, spoiled, raw, and cooked food (remove all packaging and stickers)
Small amounts of liquids (no more than one cup per green bin)
Some paper products, such as paper plates, paper towels, facial tissue, greasy take-out paper packaging, paper baking cups, shredded paper
These compostable items will be picked up on a regular schedule by one of our Team Members, at which time you’ll also get a fresh Green Bin.
The organic material collected enters the compost stream in one of three ways:
Sent to the Region’s Compost facility
Donated to local neighbourhood garden compost piles
Used at Kitchener Clean’s Worm Farm where it becomes worm castings
(a high grade fertilizer)
You’ll also receive regular update about your office’s impact, and you can see how all of our initiatives combined are helping the cause.
Sign Up For The Office Compost Program Today!
When cleaning for clients, we noticed large volumes of organic waste being thrown into garbages, only to be sent to local landfills.
We recognized the need for more options in our city for businesses to make environmentally responsible decisions for the disposal of their waste and the future of our climate.
Ontario businesses send 6.7 million tonnes of waste to landfills each year. What kind of difference could your business make through greener decisions for the disposal of your waste? Join the movement!
