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Are you up for the challenge?
Wildsight’s Cranbrook Clean Bin Project launched in April with a screening of the film, The Clean Bin Project.
The movie is about a Vancouver couple that challenged themselves to live waste-free for a year – they did and then made a film about it. Now it is Cranbrook’s turn to try and reduce the amount they send to the landfill.
“We are definitely up for the challenge,” said coordinator of the project, Skye McDougall, a Cranbrook local herself.
“A lot of viewers (of the film) seem to be inspired and motivated to take the challenge themselves to see what changes they can make to help clean out their bins – we even have an eight-year-old who has challenged her Mom to go head-to-head.”
Cranbrook city councilor Sharon Cross is also willing to give it a go.
“With our local landfill taking up prime property, there is more I can do besides recycling and composting to reduce waste and increase the life of our landfill site,” she said. “I see this as a necessary personal challenge,” she said.
McDougall said that the competition will be a friendly forum for learning and sharing strategies and ideas with each other to become waste free. She is also a participant, and is taking a serious look at what comes into her home in the first place.
“I will be more conscious of packaging – so much of what we buy is wrapped in non-recyclable, non-biodegradable plastics that head straight to the landfill,” said McDougall. “A good reason to buy bulk or re-use some of my containers.”
She said she will be seeking products that are packaged in recycled or sustainable materials and will be making cookies and snacks from scratch to avoid a lot of pre-packaged waste.
“As well as composting all my organic waste including soiled paper products, coffee grinds, and yard waste,” said McDougall. “I will recycle everything possible – paper, plastics (#1-6) and cans, and light bulbs, batteries, and electronics.”
“It’s going to be great to be able to share the experience with other Clean Bin Challengers”, said McDougall. “We’ll be keeping in touch to share hints and support each other throughout the month-long challenge”
The Cranbrook Clean Bin Challenge runs from May 15 until June 15. Anyone interested in registering, please visit www.wildsight.ca/cleanbin to sign up and receive more information.
There is a Challenge Launch on Friday May 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Studio Stage Door. Find out more about the challenge and learn how to reduce your own household garbage!
For those that missed the Clean Bin Project screening, the DVD is available on loan at the Cranbrook Public Library. Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Columbia Basin Trust.
Above photo: Jenn & Grant, the original Clean Bin Challengers, size-up each other’s bins containing a year’s worth of garbage. The couple went on to make an award winning film telling the story of the year they tried to live waste-free. The Clean Bin Project movie recently screened in Cranbrook and the DVD is now available in the Cranbrook Public Library. Wildsight is inviting Cranbrook residents to join the Cranbrook Clean Bin Challenge starting on May 15.
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