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How can we reach our 2020
Greenest City Targets?

Tamara Shulman

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16 results found

  1. Get organics from all sectors out of the waste stream - ASAP.

    27 votes
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    1 comment  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce waste  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman shared this idea  · 

  2. Develop a Vancouver Food Action Plan

    177 votes
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    6 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Encourage local food  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 
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    Tamara Shulman commented  · 

    Yes, using an organics hierarchy to prevent food waste, recover food to feed hungry people then hungry animals, seek industrial uses, then compost uses our organics most efficiently. Then complete the loop by using that compost in abundant local agriculture sites - urgan and regional - which can provide high quality food that increases our food security and improves our food quality....

  3. Extend food waste collection program to include apartments and condos

    770 votes
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    25 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce waste  ·  Admin →
    under review  ·  AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) responded

    The City supports Metro Vancouver’s plans to ban food scraps from the incinerator and landfills by 2015. The City will collaborate with Metro Vancouver to develop and implement a plan to ensure apartments, condos, businesses and institutions have access to food scraps collection programs before the ban comes into effect.

    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 
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    Tamara Shulman commented  · 

    Yes! I've heard about great programs everywhere from Berlin to Switzerland to Japan and Korea. In San Francisco, teams of outreach staff go door to door with kitchen catchers and educational info to get each MF building online, work with property managers to advise on bin placement etc. Time to power up the technical support and ensure we have enough capacity to process organics to create high quality compost, complete the nutrient cycle, and get it OUT of the waste stream asap.

  4. Require businesses to be responsible for their own waste

    234 votes
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    11 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce waste  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 
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    Tamara Shulman commented  · 

    Yes reduction is key, but higher garbage costs can also build in incentives for changing procurement practices to not only reduce waste (bulk purchasing etc),. but use easily recyclable or compostable items and have higher diversion rates overall. My understanding is that with Nova Scotia's long term organics ban (from landfill), even the fast food joints have organics collection...

  5. Coordinate waste management truck routes

    17 votes
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    2 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce waste  ·  Admin →
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    Tamara Shulman commented  · 

    Yes! Some kind of franchise agreement, or at least hauler coordination, makes hauling more efficient and can add incentives for diversion. Regarding the latter, if one hauler handles organics and garbage, they can more easily switch out containers as organics diversion increase and garbage decreases in an inversion - without there being a disincentive. It also provides an opportunity to get creative about using split trucks to add efficiency, provide more frequent pickup as organics becomes the norm etc. Legal hoops to jump through on this change, but worth it.

    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  6. Encourage urban food production

    669 votes
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    23 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Encourage local food  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  7. Repeal mandatory bike helmet legislation

    408 votes
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    72 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Travel predominately by foot, bike, and transit  ·  Admin →
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    Tamara Shulman commented  · 

    See Copenhagen study that backs up the 'p.s.' note: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1368064

    or google 'copenhagen bike helmets' to learn more. I heard about this movement recently from www.best.bc.ca and it made sense... so long as we have more separated bike lanes. helmets are like seat belts - they're needed for high velocity impact, something that's less likely to happen when cars go 30km/hour or less.

    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  8. Ban disposable cups, plates and cutlery in all restaurants/cafes

    190 votes
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    31 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce waste  ·  Admin →
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    Tamara Shulman commented  · 

    Agreed. See http://trailertrashed.org/ for a little extra inspiration on the disposal coffee cup issue. Changing the norm towards ceramic is the way to go, but an integrated approach could be at least to require compostable cups (PLA lined) instead. I'm surprised how few coffee shops - even the ones that purport to be green - have gone this route.

  9. Ban garburetors - they waste water and put waste in water

    26 votes
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    5 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Use less water  ·  Admin →
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    Tamara Shulman commented  · 

    Yes, yes, yes. Especially considering the region's main treatment plants only have primary treatment... so basically all those extra nutrients are taxing our infrastructure then heading straight out into waterways. Composting - as close to home as possible but even by using existing yard trimming up - is the best way to go.

    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  10. Separate organic matter out of the waste stream and convert it to biogas

    29 votes
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    8 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce greenhouse gas emissions  ·  Admin →
    under review  ·  AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) responded

    The City has already started a food scraps collection program for neighbourhoods where yard trimmings are collected. These materials are currently composted. With more organic waste diversion, the City will explore opportunties to implement technolgies that produce biogas like gassifiers and anaerobic digesters.

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    Tamara Shulman commented  · 

    Agreed that energy recovery is possible, but digestate needs to be composted afterwards to create a high quality end product that completes the nutrient cycle.

    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  11. Align Capitial Spending to Pedestrian & Cyclist Injury Reduction

    17 votes
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    0 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Travel predominately by foot, bike, and transit  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  12. Gardens on apartment property

    81 votes
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    2 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Encourage local food  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  13. Develop more useable and green school grounds

    73 votes
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    6 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Improve access to nature  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  14. Eliminate residential curbside recycling collection of packaging materials

    11 votes
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    3 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce waste  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  15. Drinking water fountains + bottled water ban

    426 votes
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    started  ·  26 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Use less water  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

  16. Prioritize cycling infrastructure and policy

    73 votes
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    started  ·  0 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Travel predominately by foot, bike, and transit  ·  Admin →
    Tamara Shulman supported this idea  · 

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