A Kelowna business that specializes in waste reduction strategies wants to meet with Osoyoos and area business owners and management from multi-family dwellings to conduct “waste audits” to find out what materials are ending up in the garbage.
Angela Nagy, CEO of GreenStep Solutions Inc., made a presentation to Town of Osoyoos council on Tuesday saying her company will also be looking at options for businesses and multi-family units to divert organic material from going to the local landfill.
GreenStep Solutions has been reaching out to businesses located across the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) to discuss potential barriers to recycling, said Nagy.
Recycling barriers may include the cost of recycling services, lack of education about waste collection or space issues for extra recycling bins, she said.
“We will also be offering free waste audits to find out what materials are ending up in the garbage,” she said. “After this consultation, GreenStep Solutions will bring forward potential programs or strategies to reduce waste.”
A waste audit involves staff from GreenStep attending local businesses and multi-unit dwellings and literally “ripping open the garbage bags” and finding out what materials should and shouldn’t be going to the landfill, she said.
The Town of Osoyoos is currently in the process of finding a permanent location to bring organic materials.
During the waste audit, staff will discuss programs to divert organics from going to the landfill, while also detailing what materials currently being placed in the regular garbage pickup could be recycled, she said.
Andrea Mackintosh, project manager for GreenStep, who will be available to speak with local business owners, strata organizations and owners of multi-unit apartment buildings, joined Nagy for her presentation to council.
Currently, strata organizations and owners of multi-unit dwellings have to arrange for their own recycling programs.
Her company’s goal is to reduce the amount of garbage being handled at the local landfill, while promoting recycling and composting programs with organic materials, she said.
“We want to get a better handle on what is out there for organics and recycling,” she said.
GreenStep staff will be available to conduct open houses and workshops on recycling and composting programs moving forward, said Nagy.
Her company also wants to discover in the coming weeks and months how much public awareness and education there is relating to recycling and composting organic material, she said. At the end of this process, her company will provide a detailed report about what is and isn’t working in Osoyoos when it comes to waste collection and disposal, said Nagy.
Mayor Sue McKortoff said she was pleased to know an established company like GreenStep Solutions is dedicated to reducing the amount of garbage being shipped to the local landfill, while promoting recycling and composting initiatives.
GreenStep now has more than 1,600 clients that have used their services and has been growing that client based for almost a decade, said Nagy.
GreenStep will be promoting its upcoming workshops and open houses in Osoyoos in the coming weeks and months so local residents can attend and access information, she said.
Any business owner or owner of a multi-unit dwelling that is interested in meeting with GreenStep Solutions management can contact Andrea Mackintosh at 1-250-862-8941, ext. 206 or email at [email protected].
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
