A Lethbridge News Now file photo of a City of Lethbridge recycling bin (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge marks Waste Reduction Week

Oct 21, 2019 | 11:50 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – This week is being used to spread awareness on waste reduction.

Lethbridge is one of many communities taking part in Waste Reduction Week (WRW). The initiative runs from today, October 21 to Sunday, October 27.

Each day of the week will mark a different theme with activities and events.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 THEME: Circular Economy & WRW Kick-Off

A circular economy is all about avoiding buying products that are eventually used, then disposed of as opposed to purchasing items that are made from recyclables or can be reused or repurposed.

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City Hall will be lit green and blue to kick-off and recognize the week.

Environment Lethbridge will also be presenting its “WasteLess Food” initiative and website to the Community Issues Committee in the afternoon.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 THEME: Textiles

The textiles theme will focus on the environmental impacts of clothing, encouraging repairing, repurposing and reusing clothes.

The City of Lethbridge will also hold a reusable Halloween costume contest. Residents can keep tabs on the City’s social media channels for a chance to win a recycling truck costume.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23 THEME: Champions and Innovators

The City will recognize Environment Lethbridge’s champions/innovators in waste reduction, the Green Heroes. Last year’s recipients can be seen here: environmentlethbridge.ca/2018-green-superheroes/.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24 THEME: Plastics

There will be a free workshop where attendees can make and take home upcycled and reusable grocery store bags made from t-shirts. The workshop is on from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Theoretically Brewing Company on 2 Avenue South.

The event is presented by the City of Lethbridge’s Waste and Recycling department and Environment Lethbridge. More details can be found here.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 THEME: Food Waste

Residents are invited to pack a “wasteless lunch” and share their meal on social media using the hashtag #ShowMeYourLunch.

Further information on food waste can be found through Environment Lethbridge’s WasteLess website.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26: Swap, Share, Repair

Swapping, sharing or repairing helps extend the lifecycle of materials and different products.

Canadians and residents in Lethbridge are being encouraged to organize a swap, share or repair event to promote this theme on both Saturday and Sunday.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 THEME: E-Waste

Sunday covers electronics and how people can give their tech gear a second life or learn where they can bring their old or damaged electronics so they can either be disposed of properly or find a new home.

Gordon Prest, with Lethbridge’s Waste and Recycling Services said the goal of WRW is to help people realize that when they throw things away, they don’t “just disappear”.

“That stuff’s life continues in the landfill and we want to make the material that we spent time and resources developing into what they are last as long as possible [and] when they come to the end of their life cycle, to make sure that they’re reused and not just thrown away,” he told LNN.

He said the City always like to let residents know what’s going on during the week. With growing popularity, he said they hope to grow the week’s activities themselves as the years go on.

One final message he had for residents was to, “keep an eye out and always really be thinking about their reduction and consider different reduction strategies in their everyday life.”