Help Rethink Canada's Sustainable Future

Winston Churchill once said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. Now that the China SWORD policy has disrupted world recyclable markets, can Churchill’s opportunistic principle apply to today’s crisis over waste? We’re going to explore that possibility at #RCBC2018 by asking some pointed questions during our first session: Re-Visioning Canada’s Recycling Industries. We’ll start by asking the following:

• Is this the time for Canadians to take a more circular systems approach to managing recyclables? 
• Can we create infrastructure and harmonize systems to process material collected in Canada?
• Could we provide that processing to recyclables from across North American?
• If so, would that give us better access to, and a bigger share of, international commodity markets? 
• Can we take those fibres, metals, and plastics and develop a more sustainable economy and conserves resources? 
• Or is this all just wishful thinking, an unachievable pipe dream lost to a world of disposable, single-use consumer products?

Our panel of industry leaders, Peter Holgate, Al Metauro, and Joe Hruska, will start off with an optimistic yet pragmatic blue horizon vision for their respective sectors. They’ll engage delegates to explore what opportunities might exist, what could be achieved, and what may still lay beyond our reach. Over the course of the conference, we’ll encourage further dialogue and ask delegates to share their thoughts through our interactive conference app. Meanwhile, BCIT Business Leadership student Eszter Laszlo will engage people in casual discussions over the three-days, then share some of the best ideas in the final session to wrap things up.

You can still register to participate in Rethink: A World Without Waste, happening May 30 to June 1 at the Whistler Westin. Don’t miss this opportunity to help determine Canada’s sustainable future. For registration and details, follow this link at  https://www.rcbc.ca/events/annual-conference. I hope to see you in Whistler this May.

Brock Macdonald
Chief Executive Officer
Recycling Council of British Columbia