We are pleased to announce the program highlights for the 44th Annual RCBC Conference: A World Without Waste at the Westin Resort and Spa in Whistler BC from May 30-June 1, 2018.

Wednesday, May 30
Opening Tour: Whistler Reuse-It Centre and Regional Recycling Facility (limited to 80 spaces) 
 
Session One: Re-Visioning Canada's Recycling Industries
In a don’t-miss opening session, industry thought leaders examine the opportunities present within international markets to control flow and process collected materials on a grander scale. They’ll openly discuss their ideas, concepts, and concerns, encouraging delegates to engage one another through impromptu discussions over the three days in an ongoing dialogue meant to explore possibilities and opportunities to lead. ​

Thursday, May 31
Session Two: EPR-a-Licious Part 1; The Latest on BC’s Recipe for EPR
Senior Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Hear from senior analysts working on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in BC and the Ministry’s continuous work to improve Canada’s leading system for product stewardship. 

Session Three: EPR-a-Licious Part 2; Some Menu Suggestions for Added Product Stewardship
Veronica Bartlett, Morrison Hershfield, & Paul Henderson,  Metro Vancouver - Mattress Recycling
Lauren Quan, Tetra Tech - Practical Waste Diversion Options in the North
Beata Tymoszejko, Diabetes Canada - Better Practices in Textile Reuse and Diversion for Municipalities
 
Session Four: Recyclemania; What Comes Around, Goes Around . . . if you do it right. 
Tamara Shulman, Tetra Tech & Jeremy Reid, EIT - Success Stories and Lessons Learned from the IC&I Sector
Sarah Miller, RecycleSmart Solutions - Enhancing  Solid Waste Diversion in a Retail Environment
Cinci Csere, Sea to Sky Removal - Deconstructing Construction Waste Program Summary
 
Keynote Session:  Reuse and Sharing Economies
David Van Seters, Sustainability Ventures

Session Five: Reuse-a-Palooza: Reuse & Repair; The Sharing Economy Part 1
Vanesa Timmer, Reuse and Repair Initiative
Chris Diplock, The Thingery
Angela Hamilton, Quupe, App Assisted Community Sharing

Session Six: Repair-a-Rama: Reuse & Repair; The Sharing Economy Part 2
Andrew W. Clendinneng, Furniture Bank – Your Used Furniture Will Change a Life
Mary-Em Waddington, BC Technology for Learning (BCTL) - Computers for Schools Program, Repairing and Reusing Technology for Learning 
Cheryl Skribe, Whistler Community Services Society  - Whistler’s Unique Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It Centres

Session Seven - Organomics; Food Waste
Nicki Casley & Nick Kiss, Bokashi Living -  Retaining the value in your food "waste"
Julie Hordowick, Regional Municipality of York - Good Food Program
 
Friday, June 1
Session 8 - Communicate-athon; Communications, Public Education, & Engagement
Mark Rowlands & Cheryl-Dean Thompson, Global Enlightening Enterprise - Inspir-A-Change, A Positive Engagement Process
Mairi Welman, District of North Vancouver - Community Outreach and Engagement
Jennifer Pereira, Organization Fluent Motion Inc. - Engage & Educate with the "Powerful Story" Technique
 
Closing Session: Re-Visioning Canada’s Recycling Industries; The Takeaways
On the final day, industry thought leaders reconvene to share key points from discussions over the course of the conference. Re-engaging with delegates, they’ll ask for input to identify takeaways for everyone to consider as part of collective efforts to revitalize and re-imagine a new vision for Canada’s recycling and resource recovery sectors. 

​Louis Pasteur once observed that chance favours the prepared mind. While that was in the context of scientific discovery, at #RCBC2018 the chances presented are about opportunities. At our 44th annual zero waste conference, we want you prepared to "Rethink a World Without Waste."  

This year we will be focusing on reuse, which provides a wide spectrum of diversion opportunities and economic activities that are more sustainable and circular. We'll kick things off on Wednesday afternoon with a tour of the internationally recognized Whistler Re-Use-It Centre and neighbouring Regional Recycling Depot. Then we'll convene back at the Whistler Westin Resort and Spa to discuss change and innovation. A select panel of sector leaders will explore the future of waste and recycling in Canada. As the impacts of China’s restrictive waste import policy reshapes the recycling landscape across North America, markets may never be the same. But is that a bad thing? Engaging delegates to examine and identify the leverage points within our situation, panelist will pose some pointed questions:

• Can we follow the example of Merlin Plastics and process recycled materials into feedstock commodities?
• Can we duplicate that success for fibres, metals, and other materials?
• Is this an opportunity to build industrial capacity in Canada?
• Could that capacity be scaled to recycle and process waste and recycling streams from the United States?  
• Are we ready to take this leadership role in resource conservation?

​That’s only part of day one. At least six more information-packed sessions will follow. Thursday will start with coverage of B.C.’s EPR with stewards and key analysts from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. That session will be followed by presentations from industry leaders developing new and innovative technologies.

We'll delve deeper into reuse in the Thursday afternoon sessions. An expert in the sharing economy and a successful sustainable entrepreneur, David Van Seters will deliver a keynote on a vital industry sector that is both an underutilized diversion mechanism and a primary component of the circular economy. With Canada’s gross domestic product just north of $1.5 trillion USD, our $16 billion reuse sector represents one percent of GDP and is expanding. David will set the stage for two full sessions on innovative reuse and its potential for growth. 

Friday will be dedicated to communications, public engagement, and change management from thought leaders in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors. Throughout the three-day event, we're confident that you will find significant takeaways from #RCBC2018 to apply in your community. So join us and share the experience of being prepared to rethink a world without waste. See you in Whistler May 30-June 1.  

Brock Macdonald
CEO, Recycling Council of BC