Green initiatives in the business, education and community sectors were in the spotlight recently as the Capital Regional District handed out its EcoStar Community Environmental awards.
Winner in the waste reduction category was Monk Office, which has significantly lowered the amount of garbage produced through its operations by, among other strategies, reducing and reusing packaging in its shipping department.
Winner among non-profits was Lansdowne middle school, where Grade 6 and 7 students on the Eco Action Team creatively encouraged use of classroom composting and recycling bins and helped bring about a 75-per-cent reduction in garbage production.
Other winners included Reliable Controls (commercial) and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church (non-profit) for integrated watershed management; Mayne Island Conservancy Society (non-profit) for land stewardship; Big Wheel Burger (commercial) and Island Pathways (non-profit) for climate action; Emma Kinakin, youth leader and Brett Soberg, community environmental leader.
Details and videos of each winner’s efforts can be found at bit.ly/1brhdr5.
