40 making a difference

 

Ridge Meadows Recycling is celebrating Waste Reduction Week by showing what the next generation of recyclers are doing

 
By Maria Rantanen, The Times October 23, 2012
 
 
 
Mandy and Brad Lambert teach their children, Elise and Tristan, to “think recycle” everywhere they go. Whenever they are out on walks, they pick up trash and recyclables. They also compost at home and only have one small bag of garbage each month.
 

Mandy and Brad Lambert teach their children, Elise and Tristan, to “think recycle” everywhere they go. Whenever they are out on walks, they pick up trash and recyclables. They also compost at home and only have one small bag of garbage each month.

Photograph by: TIMES photo , TIMES

For 40 years, residents of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows have been able to get rid of a lot of household junk without worrying about it ending up in a landfill.

The Ridge Meadows Recycling Society started collecting recyclables in a shed in Hammond in 1972, then in a space in 1974 at the Cottonwood landfill - aptly called a "dump" in those days - and now at their facility on River Road that opened in 1990 where they accept a wide variety of items from newspaper and office paper to electronics, paint, oil tanks, and even the kitchen sink.

The Ridge Meadows Recycling Society has been celebrating its 40 years of existence this year, and in doing so they decided to look at the up-and-coming generation of recyclers.

The society called for the nominations of 40 Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows residents under the age of 40 who have shown they care about the environment by reducing waste, educating others, and living a sustainable lifestyle.

There were families who recycled together, there were kids who rode their bikes around town, and there were people who are farming on small acres to help sustain the local food movement. Also being honoured are students in various schools who make sure their school's environmental footprint in minimized, as well as many others.

These 40 Under 40 will be honoured at tonight's Maple Ridge council meeting, at 7 p.m., to coincide with Waste Reduction Week. (See pages A13 to A15 for more about the 40 Under 40.)

mrantanen@mrtimes.com

© Copyright (c) Maple Ridge Times
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Story Tools

 
 
Font:
 
Image:
 
 
 
 
 
Mandy and Brad Lambert teach their children, Elise and Tristan, to “think recycle” everywhere they go. Whenever they are out on walks, they pick up trash and recyclables. They also compost at home and only have one small bag of garbage each month.
 

Mandy and Brad Lambert teach their children, Elise and Tristan, to “think recycle” everywhere they go. Whenever they are out on walks, they pick up trash and recyclables. They also compost at home and only have one small bag of garbage each month.

Photograph by: TIMES photo , TIMES

 
Mandy and Brad Lambert teach their children, Elise and Tristan, to “think recycle” everywhere they go. Whenever they are out on walks, they pick up trash and recyclables. They also compost at home and only have one small bag of garbage each month.
Crystal Williamson was inspired after spending her school volunteer hours with the CEED Centre interviewing members of local environmental groups for a video. She is now a self-described “hard-core recycler” and tries to reduce her waste by buying products with little or no recyclable packaging. She is now pursuing environmental sciences and hopes to go into conservation.
Michelle Vandermoor works and volunteers with the Alouette River Management Society (ARMS) and volunteers with the Haney Farmer’s Market. She is an environmental student at Simon Fraser University and is interested in reusing materials through up-cycling and clothing exchanges.
Ryan May’s nonprofit organization, Living Land, has a mandate to “work-play the planet into a more green, healthy, and beautiful place to be.” He encourages organic gardens and gardeners, plants food-producing trees, and strives to integrate people and nature for mutual benefit. His love of the land and his eagerness to share his passion is evident in his daily life.
Chef Trevor Randle teaches the culinary program at Maple Ridge Secondary School. He promotes the many benefits of purchasing and eating locally grown food through agriculture in the classroom. He participates in local food events such as Golden Harvest and the Culinary Cookoff at the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest, where his students are able to directly meet and connect with local farmers and food producers.
Aryan Jamshidian makes sure everything is recycled at home and checks and gives warnings when there is a waste on energy, for example, when someone leaves the lights on after leaving a room.
Adlayna Speirs has worked for Greenpeace and recently starred in a video called Congo Lines, Not Pipe Lines. In 2002 she was featured doing “The Stomp” for one of Ridge Meadows Recycling’s advertising campaigns. She, along with her brother Rory, are actively involved in many community activities.
Chris Kasza is incredibly inspiring when it comes to environmental care and animal protection. He is a permaculture farmer with The Farm for Life Project, a member of GETI, and a board member at the CEED Centre. He lives a vegan lifestyle and rescues and fosters animals in need of a home.
Adam Rieu’s environmental initiatives at work include a bike-to-work program, paperless agendas, encouraging reusable drink containers, and setting up worm composters. He works hard to incorporate young people into positive change and his friends say he has inspired them to spend at least 30 minutes in nature a day, make litterless lunches, compost, and recycle.
Kiersten Duncan has great environmental and community awareness and in 2011 was the youngest candidate to run for Maple Ridge council on an environmental platform. She was the volunteer coordinator for Earth Day 2012 and has volunteered in this role for Country Fest for a number of years. She inspires many with her willingness to step forward and advocates for her beliefs.
Maddi Richardson encourages new students at Maple Ridge Secondary to get involved with the school’s environmental group and join other like-minded people taking action on environmental issues. Her incredible insight and unfailing respect and passion for the world has kept the group alive and has been essential in progressing the idea for a planned school garden.
Jocelyn Durston’s interest in the politics of agriculture began in university. Her passion for sustainable agriculture took her to Ottawa where she did policy work, but the opportunity to try farming hands-on and see her theories in action led her to begin the “Farm for a Year” project which she documented in a blog. Now in its third year, “Farm for Life” sells produce regularly at the Haney Farmers’ Market.
Keesha Rosario owns SMART Watering Systems, a company that works with homeowners, municipalities, parks and recreation, property management companies, contractors, engineers, and associations to change people’s behaviour towards more efficient water use and conservation. This is done through outdoor water audits and assessments, innovative pilot programs and services, and weather-based technologies.
Dustin Quist is concerned about the planet and has been a recycling hero for many years. He did extensive recycling at his elementary school and is currently the main recycler at Maple Ridge Secondary. Arriving before 8 a.m. every Friday to collect and sort the school’s cardboard for recycling pickup, Dustin is an incredible inspiration to recyclers everywhere.
Eddy Pope thinks it is important to ride the trail-a-bike behind his dad or mom whether it is to the grocery store or to church or to a local festival in Maple Ridge. He is excited to go cycling, rain or shine! He also helps reduce waste by using the family’s solar cone for apple cores and banana peels.
Julia Bartel is a visual artist who enjoys using materials she finds and recreating them into something inspiring. She says found objects push her to be more creative and encourage the awareness of the natural world in her art work. By using recycled products and encouraging discussions about the environment, Julia reminds us that we can think about the earth no matter where our passion lies.
Amy Liu is an essential member of the EnviRAMental group at Maple Ridge Secondary School and her commitment and fantastic ideas are valued by everyone. Amy always finds unique ways to raise awareness, push ahead a project, and look at the environmental issues facing us today.
Annie Chang’s parents encouraged her to be conscious about recycling, saving water and energy, and not wasting food. Growing up in a society where environmental concerns can easily be replaced by simple, yet impulsive habits has led her to rise up and take action. She believes it is a genuine human instinct to care, especially for the only planet in this galaxy with the suitable conditions to support life – our home.
Shannon Alke is a passionate gardener. She has always cared about the earth and feels a connection with nature every time she gardens. She volunteers with the CEED Centre and GETI and sings with the Green Singers who are spreading environmental messages through song. Currently working at Changes Recycling Centre, she is happiest when working in a place that corresponds with her values.
Miss Herman’s class at Maple Ridge Secondary collects and sorts all the recycling (paper, cardboard, cans, glass, bottles, and juice boxes) at the school of 1,400 students. The class also works to create eco-friendly displays for Waste Reduction Week, Halloween, and Christmas, to help teach the rest of the school ways to help our environment and reduce our waste!
Carmel Kurland always looks for ways to help save our planet. He is the kid that loves nature, bears, fish, and, of course, recycles and keeps the earth clean. He reads and learns about ways he can make a difference in the world and he always encourage others to do the same. He cares about healthy foods and food sources, packaging and waste problems, recycling, and how to make clean energy without damaging our planet.
Kyla Seward is the founder of the EnviRAMental club at Maple Ridge Secondary School. She is currently in the wildlife and fisheries program at the University of Northern BC, working in natural resource conservation towards wildlife rehabilitation or environmental restoration. She has just been accepted in a volunteer program to travel abroad and work with endangered species.
Casey Pope has made cycling a part of his everyday life and chose his high school because it was on a cycling route. His efforts to bike to school, church, and even the Vancouver Zoo made it possible for his family to become a one-car family. For his vacation last summer he completed a 120km cycling trip while carrying panniers.
Jenelle Murray’s third year as a member of Thomas Haney Secondary’s Eco Action group. Her passions lie in maintaining sustainable living, buying local and organic foods that support our local farmers, and being as all-round environmentally friendly as we can. She is inspired by many local environmentalists, such as David Suzuki, and also the supportive group leaders in Eco Action.
Kim Lauzon attends weekly conversation groups at the CEED Centre, where she has been developing and gaining support for the idea of a co-operative storefront that would function as a grocery store, offering local products to local people. She has already established a formal group, called the Golden Ears Community Co-op, and she and other members have started buying items in bulk.
Dane Matthews is a recycling champion at Harry Hooge Elementary. Last year, his class was part of a Ridge Meadows Recycling pilot project to test solar cone food digesters in schools and Dane worked hard to educate students how to use the solar cone and ensure that only organic materials went into it.
Annie Russell has been part of the Maple Ridge Secondary School EnviRAMental group since Grade 8. She brings her optimism and awareness to every project including the group’s current efforts to create a school garden. Annie also writes and shares songs that encourage others to respect and protect the environment.
Darren Durupt (40 plus 1) is an advocate for cycling infrastructure for commuters and recreational cyclists alike. He rides his bike to the West Coast Express to commute to work in rain, sun, and even snow. As an information technology manager, he makes purchasing decisions based on the amount and type of packaging and while he loves new technology, he uses things as long as possible before replacing them with a newer model.
Grady White is “THE” recycler in his family, and encouraged his parents to get a composter for food scraps when he was just six years old. He despises throwing away anything that is recyclable and at the start of the school year questioned why there is no plastics recycling at his school. Committed to a litterless lunch, he currently takes his plastic wrap and containers home to recycle and is looking into improving the school’s recycling setup.
Growing up with her mother singing about Growing Up Green, and having her first job with Ridge Meadows Recycling, it was inevitable that Beth Southwell would become an environmental champion. At both work and home, she encourages others to recycle and conserve energy. She now sings and performs with her Mum, Pam Carr, as Two Tall Women at events such as Earth Day and Rivers Day.
Andrew Wang has been a member of Thomas Haney Secondary’s Eco-Action group since Grade 8. Through the group, he has promoted environmental awareness and become motivated to learn more about issues surrounding sustainability. He feels it is our obligation, as 21st-century global citizens, to work together to create a sustainable environment for not only future generations but also for planet Earth itself.
May Brindley is a Grade 7 student in the Environmental School. Last year she did a project on recycling, which led to her setting up recycling for the school. She also did a presentation for the school and collected many, many toilet paper tubes to lead reuse craft workshops with the Kindergarten to Grade 3 students.
Interested in cars from a young age, Brad Zimmerman is now director of engineering with local company, Future Vehicle Technologies. Through their innovative electric vehicle technology showcased in the eVaro, Brad’s company aims to “reduce the world’s dependence on oil, reduce our carbon footprint, create skilled and meaningful jobs, and move mankind towards sustainability.”
Joshua Rognan is a great recycler and helps his family put out their sorted recycling every Tuesday. He reminds his family that many, many things can be recycled – even paper that wraps fish and chips can be put in the solar cone instead of the garbage. He packs his lunch in reusable bags and tries to have litter-free lunches. Joshua also enjoys gardening. He helps out in the vegetable garden and composts as much as he can!
Melissa Fisher, currently a kindergarten teacher at Webster’s Corners Elementary, regularly schedules environmental workshops through Ridge Meadows Recycling for her and her colleagues’ classes. She works to teach kids at a young age to realize their impact on the world. Through her nature walks, she builds an appreciation of nature and extends school learning into the natural world.
Vanessa Pogue is an active member in the Maple Ridge Secondary School EnviRAMental group and is a key part of the team, bringing her passion for the planet to the forefront of all projects. When ideas start to flow, Vanessa is always there to keep track (and keep the group on track!).
Danika Pope rides her bike to get where she wants to go, including on vacation! Through Brownies, she also helped paint yellow salmon on the road next to storm drains to remind people that things dropped in the storm drain go directly to creeks and rivers where the salmon live.
When bottle recycling bins at Garibaldi Secondary overflowed to the point where people started to put them in the garbage, Kristen Irvine decided to step up and take on this project. Every Thursday after school she would spend up to two hours collecting and recycling the bottles, usually by herself, and donate the proceeds to the school’s environmental action team. Her persistence and dedication is inspiring.
Kia Dullemond is in his fourth year at SFU with a major in environmental science with a focus in environmental earth systems. He has helped coordinate both an “Eco Camp” and a nature camp where youth learn about the relationships within ecosystems and the value of nature, and learn to appreciate a sense of beauty in their surroundings.
Emma Walsh makes her lunch with reusable containers, has a reusable water bottle and loves to sort the recycling. She is an Adopt-a-Block volunteer and walks to school everyday. For her next birthday, she is planning a Toonie Party, where guests bring one or two Toonies instead of a gift. Half the money goes towards a present she will buy, and half goes towards a charity. Emma has already chosen the SPCA as her charity.
 
 
 
 
 

More Stories »

 

More Photo Galleries

Sgt. Dale Somerville, Ridge Meadows RCMP

Teen hit by car, driver did not...

Mounties are looking for leads as they investigate...

 
Who am I?

Who am I?

Join in and have some fun with Who Am I? The Facebook...

 

What's On

June 18: Fundraiser . Sunwoods Got Talent is a fundraiser...

 
 
More Stories »
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

 

 

Most Popular News