Newmarket resident Sue Cullen is passionate about the environment and recycling.
As part of a program with the non-profit organization A Greener Future, Cullen took it upon herself to start tracking what was going into her garbage and recycling bins.
After tracking it, she said she was surprised by just how many items she was putting in, and started changing her buying habits.
“It was a real eye-opener on how much plastic and how many single-use items we actually have in the world,” she said. “I thought I was doing good before, and I was surprised … I wasn’t doing as good a job as I could have been.”
The Markham-based A Green Future has hosted a series of waste audit workshops this year meant to guide York Region residents toward reducing their waste, with a final one to take place in October. The workshops held throughout 2023 help residents start tracking their waste and take measures to reduce it, with 22 households featuring 61 people participating so far.
The project was funded through a $15,000 grant from York Region’s Circular Economy Initiatives Fund, which offers funding to projects that reduce residential waste.
A Greener Future executive director Rochelle Byrne said the organization works cleaning up beaches on Lake Ontario, and they see the impact of waste there.
“There are a lot of things that shouldn’t be in the environment and could potentially be replaced with things that are more sustainable,” she said. “By starting this program, we’re hoping to encourage people to reduce waste.”
Participants in the program are given ways to track their household waste, before providing that data to A Greener Future. The organization worked with participants throughout, providing tips on how to reduce items, as well as informal sessions to talk about their efforts.
“By the end of their month, our hope is that each household is able to reduce their waste by a significant amount,” Byrne said. “Just by learning whatever is available in the community when it comes to diverting waste and buying different products that are more sustainable … So far, so good. We’ve had really good results.”
The organization is planning one more session in October, which they hope to make their biggest yet, timed with Circular Economy Month. Beyond that, Byrne said it is a program that could easily be adapted and done again, and that anyone can use the information even without the seminar.
Cullen said taking part in the audit program has significantly changed how she grocery shops. She said she makes a point to avoid single-use items, opting for things like shampoo soap bars over plastic shampoo bottles.
“If we all did just one little thing, it would make a huge difference in the world,” she said.
Cullen said she plans to participate in the last workshop to challenge herself to track and reduce waste over Christmas as guests come over.
She said she believes in the difference these waste reduction efforts can make.
“Whatever you buy ,eventually you’re going to toss. You have to look at the endpoint of that product,” Cullen said. “Look at your garbage, take it out, write it down and look at it. It will make an impact on your life.”
You can sign up for the last home waste audit workshop happening Oct. 3 through the A Greener Future website.
