A total of $300,000 in grants is being issued by the Regional District of Nanaimo to four local organizations for garbage diversion through various activities including re-purposing waste products.
The organizations selected to receive the funds include Habitat for Humanity, Light House, Loaves and Fishes, and the Synergy Foundation.
“We are excited to see continued innovation by local organizations in reducing waste and supporting a sustainable circular economy. Both the environment and our communities are benefiting from their efforts, and we are pleased to be able to support them through the RDN’s zero waste recycling funding program,” said Vanessa Craig, RDN chairperson, in a press release. “These projects will help create a more sustainable future by addressing these challenges today.“
A total of $55,000 is going to Habitat for Humanity, which will use its funding to divert solid waste from landfills through its programs, including the book recycling program and the ReFresh and ReStore stores.
Light House will receive $137,000 for its building materials exchange program, which connects construction and manufacturing businesses in south and central Vancouver Island to prevent construction materials from going to the landfill. According to the release, the program will also establish a physical hub with Habitat for Humanity to receive and sell salvaged material and launch an online material exchange hub.
A $101,000 grant will go to Loaves and Fishes to purchase pallet racking for food storage for its new 25,000-square foot warehouse. The reason for this, the RDN explained, was to increase the amount of eligible food going to people in need and to divert food that can’t be eaten to farms for livestock feed or sent for composting.
The Synergy Foundation will get $7,000 to create an engagement program which will involve gathering information through interviews with waste haulers to develop resources such as communication kits and signage.
