BC Bike Race Turns a Shade of Green

Posted on June 11, 2013

One of the coolest parts of our jobs is getting a chance to work with a diverse group of organizations, and helping to efficiently divert their waste into recycling efforts whenever possible.

This is why we are especially thrilled to be partnering with the BC Bike Race (BCBR) to provide waste management services for this year’s event. Loving this sport ourselves, (did you know Eamonn used to be a pro mountain biker for NSMB.com and Rocky Mountain Bikes?) it gives us a great excuse to get out into the sunshine for a week, and combine what we enjoy most: finding creative ways to divert waste, mountain biking, and the great outdoors. It’s a win for everyone!

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The BCBR is an annual 7-day mountain bike race that begins in North Vancouver on June 29, travels to Vancouver Island, and finishes off in Whistler on July 6. It is a fun and rigorous event, and those who participate get to experience some of the most beautiful parts of our British Columbian landscape, while striving to achieve and surpass personal and competitive goals.

Each year the BC Bike Race grows in popularity, with riders traveling from all over the world to take part. More participants and spectators translate to more potential waste, which creates a unique opportunity for us to work in conjunction with the BCBR to analyze the footprint of the event, and create a custom program to reduce the event’s environmental impact with tailored recycling and waste reduction initiatives. To say we’re excited would be an understatement. Keep your eye out for an update on our experience of this year’s BC Bike Race!  

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A Solution for All of Your Renovation Waste

Posted on May 29, 2013

Are you renovating? If you are or are planning to, then you are going to be blessed with a HUGE amount of construction waste. Don’t just rent a bin and send it to the local landfill. I have a better solution.

This solution will allow you to sleep well at night knowing that you are not adding to the world’s massive garbage problem. Call North Vancouver based GREEN COAST RUBBISH for all of that recycling, composting, demolition and tree waste. In 2012, they diverted  76% of the waste they picked up to alternative recycling and waste recovery streams. A company with a purpose and a mission. Read more of GreenKick.ca’s blog post on us. 

Be sure to check out Michele Partridge’s GreenKick.ca for all that is green.  You’ll find tips on how to live a greener, healthier lifestyle. Thanks for the great profile and the kind words Michele!

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Fueled by Biodiesel

Posted on May 17, 2013

Green Coast just got bigger, better and a little more green. We are extremely fortunate to have recently hit a milestone, our 7th birthday, and to be experiencing a very busy 2013 to-date. In order to keep up with the demand for a greener and cleaner future we have expanded our carrying capabilities with an addition to our fleet-a GMC W4500 truck which will be 100% fueled by Biodiesel.

What is Biodiesel? Biodiesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable bio-fuel derived from high free fatty acid feedstock (aka. restaurant grease, vegetable oil, cooking oil, animal fats) that are put through a process called Transesterification; combining the oil with an alcohol (typically Methanol, sometimes Ethanol), and a catalyst (usually sodium hydroxide). The result of this exchange is a chemical reaction which produces glycerin and an ‘ester’ or organic compound called Biodiesel.

Thanks to the Vancouver Biodiesel Co-op, which is the Lower Mainland’s ONLY consumer source of 100% pure recycled, ASTM certified and locally sourced Biodiesel we continue to strive towards sustainability and the reduction of our Green House Gas (GHG) footprint. 

Since 2010, we have been involved in the Climate Smart Program for businesses, and we have been able to measure our carbon footprint. As such have been able to plan and action ways to reduce our carbon emissions. Running our vehicles on alternate fuel sources is one of our key reduction strategies and we are ecstatic to be a member of the Vancouver Biodiesel Co-op! 

Green Coast is committed and passionate about reducing our GHG Footprint, and by fueling our new carrier with Biodiesel, we are ensuring a lower vehicle emissions, therefore reducing our overall GHS footprint as we continually work towards a smaller impact on our planet and resources. 

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Where do you go to recycle your old carpet?

Posted on March 19, 2013

Have you recently renovated your home? Perhaps you finally replaced that old shag carpeting with some sleek looking hardwood, or swapped that dingy carpet with some fresh linoleum? The fact is that many of us remain unsure about what to do with our old carpet-avoid bad carpet karma and recycle it today!

Did you know that most carpet is comprised of plastic fibers, and therefore can and should be recycled. With roughly 250 million pounds of carpet waste turning up in Canadian landfills every year (6 billion in the U.S.), there is much work to be done. These sad rolls of ditched carpet are second only to diapers in terms of landfill volume, contributing to 4% of landfill waste, and take over five decades to degrade.

That’s where Aspera Recycling comes in. Aspera is a 100% Canadian owned and operated company, leading the industry in waste diversion and recycling of both carpet and carpet underlay. With 9 collection sites across Canada, Aspera is working from multiple platforms to ensure all carpet is diverted from the landfills. 

How Aspera works:

      • Sorts and organizes carpet based on polymer content
      • Shears carpet fibers which contain plastic
      • Converts the carpet shears into pure fibers
      • Fibers are then prepared for shipping and reintroduced into the manufacturing process

We at Green Coast Rubbish are excited to announce our on-going partnership with Aspera recycling. Our first project will save roughly 85 tonnes of carpet and carpet underlay from ending up in a landfill, and involves recycling nearly 600 units of carpeting from two towers in downtown Vancouver. We are proud to be partnering up with Aspera Recycling on this and many projects to come.

 If you need advice or require any assistance in disposing of your old unwanted carpet, contact us today with any questions.   

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Electronics Recycling in Vancouver

Posted on January 30, 2013

Are you unsure of how to properly dispose of your obsolete and unwanted electronics? According to a December 2012 survey conducted by Samsung, many Canadians are! In fact, 1 in 10 respondents admitted to throwing their old electronics into the garbage, while 1 in 3 suggested that their old electronics are just collecting dust in their homes.

Recycling of your electronics should not be a challenge or a burden when you consider the excellent regional recycling programs and facilities we have in place.  We at Green Coast Rubbish want to make sure you do the right thing with your e-waste, so we have come up with a resource list of FREE locations and programs where you can recycle your electronics responsibly in Metro Vancouver.

Encorp Pacific’s Return-It Depots have a fantastic end-of-life electronics recycling program available to all consumers in British Columbia. The Return-It depots are located across the Lower Mainland of BC. Basically, anything with a plug or a battery can be recycled through this program. Find the nearest Return-It depot.  

 

Free Geek is another great option for recycling your  electronics in Vancouver.  They operate as a nonprofit organization that not only recycles, but reuses the donated electronics. Check out their website for details on acceptable electronics and store location. 

 

 

London Drugs also provides a free end-of-life electronics recycling program for items that have been purchased at their stores.  Customers can drop off items for recycling at any store location.  Follow these links for a list of eligible materials and for the location nearest you. 

 

If you didn’t know, the Salvation Army has been a working partner of Encorp’s Electronics Return-It program since 2007, and they will also take your electronics for recycling. Additionally, if your items still have some life left in them, the Salvation Army will  happily accept them for donation. For the nearest drop off location. 

 

Think Recycle is a cost-free environmental fundraising program that refiberishes, recycles, and resuses donated electronics. Green Coast Rubbish has partnered with the e-waste organization since 2011.  All funds generated through Green Coast’s collection of appropriate e-waste are donated to the David Suzuki Foundation. Check out our past blog about the partnership. Visit Think Recycle’s site to learn more about their program and how to get involved. 

Anyway you look at it your old electronics contain hazardous materials that are harmful to our environment, and as such, they must be recycled responsibly! If you are in need of assistance or advice with recycling your electronics from your home, organization or place of work call us today for a free and friendly quote.  Happy recycling!

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Recycle Your Christmas Tree!

Posted on December 28, 2012

Yet another Christmas day has come and past and now you are faced with the decision of what to do with your Christmas tree? We at Green Coast are asking you not to toss it, but recycle it responsibly! 

If you live in Metro Vancouver there are plenty of options for recycling or composting your green beauty. To help you achieve this, we have put together a comprehensive list of local facilities, tree chipping events and environmentally friendly solutions for recycling your Christmas tree this holiday season.

North Shore

First and foremost, you can compost your Christmas tree by including it with your regular curbside “Green Can” collection materials. Just be sure that it is cut and bundled into piles no larger than 3 feet by 1 foot. Or, if that seems like too much work, you can support one of the many local tree chipping events listed below:

North Vancouver Lions Club

Location: Karen Magnussen Community Centre – 2300 Kirkstone Road, North Vancouver, BC.

Location: Highland Chevron – 3150 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver, BC.

Date & Time: Jan. 6th from 9:30am to 3:30pm

Cost: By donation

Seymour Scouts (11th and 13th)

Location: Parkgate Village Shopping Centre – Mount Seymour Road, North Vancouver, BC.

Date: Jan. 6th from 9:00am to 4:30pm

Cost: By donation

City of North Vancouver Firefighters

Location: RONA – 1160 East 3rd Street, North Vancouver, BC.

Date & Time: Jan. 5th from 8:30am to 4:30pm

Cost: By donation

Ambleside Tiddlycove Lions Club

Location: Ambleside Park – 13th Street and Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC.

Date & Time: Jan. 1st to Jan. 6th – Weekdays: 12:00pm to 4:00pm; Weekends: 10:00am to 4:00pm

Cost: By donation

Source: North Shore Recycling Program 

Vancouver

For residents of Vancouver with regular green waste pickup, you can include your Christmas tree with your curbside recycling until January 31st. To leave it curbside, the tree must be unbagged and placed at least 3 feet from the wheeled carts before 7:00am on collection day.

Alternatively, you can drop your tree off for free at the Vancouver Transfer Station Recycling Depot-377 West Kent Avenue N, Vancouver, BC. If neither of those options work, you can always drop off your tree at any of the tree recycling events listed below:

Lions Club Christmas Tree Recycling

Location: Kerrisdale Community Community Centre - 5851 West Blvd, Vancouver, BC

Location: Kits Beach – Parking lot by Cornwall Street and Arbutus Street, Vancouver, BC.

Location: Sunset Beach Upper parking lot by Pacific Boulevard and Broughton Street, Vancouver, BC.

Location:  RONA - 2727 East 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC.

Dates: January 7th to 8th

Christmas Tree Recycling at UBC

Location: UBC Botanical Garden – 6804 South West Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC.

Dates and Time: Dec. 26 to Jan 8th from 9:30am to 4:30pm

Cost: $5 donation (suggested)

Burnaby

If you are a resident of Burnaby, you can drop off your Christmas tree for free at the Burnaby Yard Waste Depot-4800 Still Creek Avenue, Burnaby, BC.

Richmond

Single-family homes in the City of Richmond can include their Christmas trees with their curbside pickup, but make sure to cut and bundle the tree into 3 feet x 2 feet piles. You can also take your tree to the City of Richmond Recycling Depot-5555 Lynas Lane, Richmond, BC.

Source: Vancity Buzz 

Please recycle or compost your Christmas tree this holiday season. It’s the green thing to do! 

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Bikes for Tykes: A Cycle of Giving

Posted on November 27, 2012

Much like our good friends at Obsession: Bikes we too think that every kid should experience the joy and excitement of riding a bike.  The opportunities, the freedom, and of course the simple pleasure a bike can bring into a child’s life is unparalleled and is something that every child should experience.

With that admirable goal in mind, Obsession has established a “Bikes for Tykes” program on the North Shore of Vancouver. The Bikes for Tykes program was founded in 1987 in Naples, Florida and has since delivered close to 18,000 reconditioned bicycles to some very lucky children. With 25 chapters in the US and 3 in Canada the program has been a massive success, to say the least.

The concept of the program is simple, you donate your previously owned kids bikes to be restored to “like new” condition and then Obsession, in conjunction with other local partners, will deliver the revitalized bikes to underprivileged children across the North Shore for Christmas. 

Since 2005, Obsession has delivered 100 refurbished bikes to kids on the Shore each Christmas, and Green Coast is on board to help them reach and exceed this number for 2012.

If you have a bike to donate but don’t have the means or the time to get it to Obsession, no need to worry. We will happily pick-up your child’s bike, scooter, or anything with two wheels for free and deliver it to Obsession!  Just contact us and mention the Bikes for Tykes program and we’ll take care of the rest.

Help make this a memorable Christmas for children on the North Shore, because when it comes to bikes, we’re all still kids at heart! 

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Ugly Ties Change Lives Fundraiser

Posted on November 5, 2012

Did you know that approximately 500 people throughout the province of BC will experience a spinal cord injury within the next 12 months? Or, that Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC) is a non-for-profit organization that provides essential resources for over 12,000 individuals who are living with spinal cord injuries in British Columbia?

From November 5th to 9th SCI BC will be raising awareness and much need funds through their annual Ugly Ties Change Lives campaign. The concept is simple, wear your ugliest ties to work, raise funds and share your photos on SCI BC’s Facebook page.

That’s what our team at Green Coast Rubbish plans on doing!  It’s our goal to assist the SCI BC in raising funds so that they can continue to help people with spinal cord injuries live productive lives within their communities. Here’s a fun little video on this fashion bending fund raising campaign.

While you’re at it, why not join the SCI BC at their culminating event for the campaign, the ‘Ugly Tie Affair’ on November 8th. Come and enjoy an evening of ugly ties, appies, refreshments and fun. The evening’s proceedings will be emceed by CTV sportscaster Kelcey Brade.

Hope to see you there, and remember to get your ‘tie on’ for this great cause!

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The Green Award: We’re A Finalist!

Posted on October 23, 2012

Green Coast Rubbish is extremely excited to announce that we were selected to be a finalist for The Green Award at the Better Business Bureau’s 5th annual Torch Awards.

The Torch Awards celebrates local businesses that demonstrate a high level of ethical practices, social conscience and commitment to their community. The Green Award “is given to a business that blends financial success with a strong commitment to positive social and environmental outcomes.” Along with Green Coast Rubbish, Fairware Promotional Products, Mills Basics and Organic Lives Enterprises were also nominated. The winner will be announced on October 25, 2012 at the Torch Awards gala dinner held at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.

Green Coast Rubbish is honored to be nominated with such an elite group of companies. We are thrilled that our commitment to creating a sustainable environment and supporting our community has been recognized by the Better Business Bureau. Good luck to all the finalists!

The Yahoo team wrote a nice little article that shows our dedication and strong commitment  in achieving positive social environmental outcomes: press release.


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A Peek Inside Our Customer Mailbox

Posted on October 2, 2012

One of the most common questions we receive from the public is, “What makes Green Coast Rubbish different from other junk hauling competitors?” and “Why should I use GCR?” Fair question we think! We could list the reasons we think our team and services offering is the bees knees, but instead we thought better to ask our customers. Here are some of the recent emails and notes we have graciously received from our now GCR fans.

Recently, I cleaned out my garage, amassing a pile of junk/recyclables. Then my ancient freezer completely broke down.  I turned to the Recycling Council of BC for assistance.  One of the two responsible recycling companies they recommended was Green Coast Rubbish.

I contacted both companies, ultimately deciding on Green Coast Rubbish. They were first to respond in a very timely manner, and subsequent communications were clear, concise, friendly, and professional. Green Coast Rubbish (Eamonn and his assistant, Michael) arrived on the date and time arranged. They introduced themselves and shook hands with me. They were both neatly dressed. One of the first things out of their truck was a trashcan, brooms and a shovel, which really impressed me, as they were obviously intent on cleaning up the remaining debris after they finished loading.

It was a most excellent and positive experience. The real bonus is that they recycle; meaning a large portion of my junk will not end up in landfill. Without hesitation, I happily and highly recommend Green Coast Rubbish.

Linda McDonell, North Vancouver, BC

Sept 24, 2012

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I have dealt with Green Coast Rubbish a few times and have nothing but great things to say about them. Amongst other things, they are:

  1. 1. Fast
  2. 2. Courteous
  3. 3. Pleasant to deal with
  4. 4. Eco-friendly, which is extremely important in this day and age
  5. 5. On time
  6. 6. Trustworthy – they did what they said they were going to do when they said they would do it at the cost they quoted.

Paddy Bickerton, North Vancouver, BC

July 20, 2012

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My husband passed away suddenly the year before, leaving behind 30 years of “collections” and “stuff” in our expansive crawlspace under the house. After stalling as long as I could, I realized that I could not move forward in life until this mess was dealt with. Fortunately, an online search pointed me to Green Coast Rubbish.

I was immediately impressed by the quick and supportive response I got via email from the company representative. The staff at Green Coast went out of their way to accommodate me quickly in hopes of making this process a little less painful and prolonged.

Because Green Coast Rubbish prides itself on being an environmentally friendly company, the biggest bonus in using their services came in the form of the recycling aspect of their work. Knowing other people could get use from my husband’s belongings made me feel so much less conflicted about getting rid of them.

From start to finish, they were caring, diligent and always going the extra mile, including follow-up inquiries regarding my satisfaction with the job and how I was feeling about the process. I have used their services again since our first encounter and would very highly recommend them to anyone in the future. Who knew junk removal could be such a personal and pleasurable experience!

Stacey Gilkinson, Delta, BC

July 18, 2012

The reasons for needing a service like Green Coast Rubbish can be varying and at many times emotional and complex. We appreciate those who have trusted us to handle the removal process. We continue to strive to be the most professional and sustainable junk removal company in the Lower Mainland.

 

Posted in Commercial Rubbish Removal and Recycling, community | 4 Comments