Spring 2023 Program:
Zero Waste Coaching for North Shore Small Businesses
Sponsored by the District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, and the District of West Vancouver
In the Spring of 2023, Ocean Ambassadors Canada (OAC) empowered North Shore small businesses to move towards zero waste and prepare for upcoming federal and provincial single-use item regulations.
With the support from our municipal sponsors, OAC provided free, in-person coaching sessions to over 50 small businesses to help them make more sustainable choices and navigate changing single-use item regulations.
A big THANK YOU to all participating businesses :
Zero Waste Coaching Sessions include:
- A short meetingat the business’ location to review their waste-management practices, types of single-use items provided, and give information best practices, and current federal (2023) and upcoming provincial (2024) regulations.
- We follow up with an easy-to-read Zero Waste Report:
- Acknowledgement of what each business is doing well & suggestions for changes to reduce their waste.
- Details on the best reusable, recyclable and compostable options & items/materials to avoid.
- Summary of single-use item regulations.
- Links to online resources, including sign, infographics, and helpful documents.
- List of local resources/service for the North Shore.
- Summary of local sharing platform services.
- Access to OAC’s online resource folder.
- We provideon-going support for businesses’ follow-up queries.
- We market each participating businesson our social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn).
- Each participating business receives a "Moving Towards Zero Waste"window decal to let customers know they are taking steps to reduce their waste.
What’s next for OAC’s Zero Waste programs?
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- Look out for OAC’s Outreach Booth at Community Eventsthis summer & fall to learn how you can do your part to help our oceans & reduce your single-use item waste! You’ll find us at events across Metro Vancouver, including:
- BC Dumpling Fest: Saturday, August 12th (Town Centre Park, Coquitlam)
- Steveston Dragonboat Festival: Saturday, August 19th (Imperial Landing, Richmond)
- PNE: Wednesday, August 23rd & Sunday, September 3rd
- UNA Neighbours Day: Saturday, September 9th (Wesbrook Community Centre, UBC)
- Shipyards Festival: Saturday, September 23rd (Shipyards, North Vancouver)
- UBC Apple Fest: Saturday & Sunday, October 14th & 15th (UBC Botanical Garden)
- Look out for OAC’s Outreach Booth at Community Eventsthis summer & fall to learn how you can do your part to help our oceans & reduce your single-use item waste! You’ll find us at events across Metro Vancouver, including:
Calling all Volunteers! If you care about the health our ocean, we invite you to help us educate the public on how prevent marine litter at its source by volunteering. Learn more about the issue of single-use items and the circular economy from OAC staff and help spread the word at community events.
To volunteer, please visit our sign-up page on SignUpGenius.
- We are reaching out to offices across Metro Vancouver to provide Lunch & Learn sessions for office workers to help them learn about the growing single-use item problem and simple steps they can take to do their part!
- If your office would like to participate, or you have any questions on OAC’s Zero Waste Programs, please contact our Zero Waste Coordinator at zerowaste@oceanambassadorscanada.org