Squamish is one step closer to achieving its Zero Waste Strategy goal thanks to a local business that diverts construction material from the landfill.
Squamish ReBuild takes in donations of reusable kitchen cabinets, toilets, lighting fixtures, windows, doors and other building items and then sells them at a lower price to local people who need them.
Since opening five years ago, the not-for-profit has diverted around 619,000 pounds of construction material from the landfill.
“This is a new way of doing business. There are traditional businesses with one goal – the bottom line. But we are a social enterprise, meaning our main reason for existing is social and environmental change,” said Inis LeBlanc, owner of Squamish Rebuild.
The District of Squamish is still in the process of developing the Zero Waste Strategy, but a goal has already been set to decrease the amount of waste that’s brought to the landfill. Currently, the average person in Squamish throws out 634 kilograms (1,398 pounds) of garbage a year, and the district is planning to cut this amount to 350 kilograms by 2020, in line with the target set by the Ministry of Environment. This means 75 per cent of waste would be recycled or composted.
Of the garbage brought to the landfill, six per cent is building materials, 35 per cent is organics and most of the rest is made up of household products, paper and plastic.
Wood waste, in particular, is bad to throw away because it doesn’t compact as easily as regular household garbage.
“We really want to keep construction waste out of the landfill. We are losing space and don’t have much time until it’s full,” said Shannon White, sustainability coordinator with the district.
LaBlanc, who employs three people, aims to decrease this amount of waste in the next couple of years by “upcycling” material that would otherwise be headed to the dump.
The Sea to Sky Gondola, for example, donated a bunch of concrete forms and someone upcycled them into garden boxes for their backyard. In addition to helping the environment, it was win-win for the gondola, which saved money by not taking the forms to the landfill, and the homeowner who got free garden boxes.
“We’re all about being a community and neighbours helping neighbours,” said LeBlanc, who credits a local business for helping her get the word out. “The financial part of the business came into place when Pete Auld, the owner or S2s Industries in Squamish, made us a highway sign for free. It was a huge project that he put up in 35 degree heat, and now way more people know about us.”
On ReBuild’s fifth anniversary, LeBlanc looks back at how she has helped her neighbours, including providing youth and adults with community service hours and having students with special needs volunteer to learn more about the workforce
Customers have saved $942,000 in building supplies since the business opened. Material is marked down 50 to 80 per cent of what it costs new. To celebrate the anniversary, LeBlanc is offering 50 per cent off everything on Oct. 1 and 2 and is hosting a get together on Oct. 1 from 12 to 4 p.m.
