The 2022 RCBC Environmental Awards

Each year the Recycling Council of B.C. recognizes the valuable contribution that individuals and organizations make towards the preservation and protection of British Columbia's environment.

Congratulations to Our 2022 Award Winners!

  • Private Sector: Businesses with outstanding initiatives to preserve and protect our environment. 
  • 2022 Recipient: Exchange-A-Blade
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Since 1976, Exchange-A-Blade has been a pioneer in the manufacture, remanufacture and recycling of power tool accessories for the home improvement and construction industries. With its Buy, Exchange, Save program, EAB has been recycling and remanufacturing used blades and other power tool accessories for more than four decades. Their commitment to environmental stewardship extends to reducing packaging to only what is necessary for safety, the use of paper or cardboard based packaging, and a dedicated fleet of 29 Prius hybrid and electric cars for their sales teams to visit stores to collect used products.

Factoid: Exchange-A-Blade operates a network of more than 2,000 North American retailers that sell and collect their products for remanufacture and recycling. In 2021, over 35,000 saw blades were exchanged. Of those, 72% of the carbide blades were remanufactured and the remaining 28% carbide blades were sent for recycling. 
  • ​Innovation Award: Organizations that achieves an outstanding technical accomplishment in design or development of a product or process that improves its sustainability or advances zero waste practices.
  • 2022 Recipient: Return-It (Encorp Pacific)
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​Encorp Pacific, also known as Return-It, has been in operation for over 27 years. Their Express system has revolutionized the recycling experience by allowing consumers to drop off their unsorted beverage containers in less than two minutes without the need to wait in line. To date, over 207,000 British Columbians have registered to use this world-class system, and to meet the growing demand they plan to expand to at least 10 new locations in 2022.

Encorp has also made continued innovations across their operations, including introducing Canada’s first-of-its-kind compressed natural gas hybrid-electric compaction truck to their fleet, launching a coffee cup recycling pilot in the City of Vancouver, and this year, piloting in-depot automation technology at select Return-It depots to limit touch points, support volume and the customer experience.

Factoid: Return-It has introduced ten solar-panelled unstaffed Express & GO stations across the province, allowing them to reach communities that may have had limited access to recycling facilities or in areas where it is not possible to site a traditional depot.
  • Non-Profit Sector: Organizations or individuals that have demonstrated excellence and leadership in environmental protection and stewardship.
  • 2022 Recipient: Ridge Meadows Recycling Society 

Ridge Meadows Recycling Society (RMRS) has been serving the Maple Ridge community for 50 years. Currently partnered with the City of Maple Ridge to provide recycling & environmental services, programs, & education, RMRS also manages the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot and an employment skills program for people with diverse abilities. The non-profit organization has continually evolved to serve their community, providing an ‘all in one’ stop recycling depot since 1990. 

Factoid: In 2018, RMRS launched the Maple Ridge Repair Cafes and has supported other cities and organizations to start their own programs. 
  • Public Sector: Government officials who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in environmental protection and stewardship.
  • 2022 Recipient: Meghan Ebueza
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Meghan Ebueza worked at the Regional District of Nanaimo for seven years and had been working in the environmental field since 2007. She was a leading force in the region’s updated solid waste management plan, and was behind the FCM's marine litter resolution being brought out nationally. Meghan was a dedicated professional whose portfolio ranged from organizing large-scale beach cleanups to writing on various environmental issues to working with governments in Indonesia to advance their local policies. Waste reduction and environmental stewardship were not only central to Meghan’s professional life, but her personal life as well. 

​We are honoured to present Meghan with this award posthumously, as nominated by her colleagues at the Regional District of Nanaimo.
The Fraser Basin Council Youth Program has been supporting innovations in implementing sustainability solutions through its Co-Creating a Sustainable BC program since 2019. The FBC Youth program connects youth from across BC to learn about differences in regional environmental challenges, to exchange knowledge, and to support each other in developing new ideas and implementing well-informed, locally relevant sustainability solutions. 

Factoid: Recent projects include Waste Free Fraser Valley - a digital guide with information and concrete tips for fellow youth to follow the 6R's to reduce food, electronic, plastic, and textile waste; Eco-Living Kitchen in Prince George, which is designed to help community members in Prince George and Williams Lake reduce and prevent waste in the kitchen; along with an organic waste reduction project in the Thompson area.

The 2022 Brock Macdonald Award Winner:
​The Narwhal

  • The Brock Macdonald Award for Excellence: This award recognizes individuals and organizations who make significant contributions to the areas of environmental education, communication, and outreach.
  • 2022 Recipient: The Narwhal
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The Narwhal is a pioneer of non-profit journalism in Canada and is supported by more than 4,500 members. The Narwhal is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, recognizing their adherence to strict standards of editorial independence and financial transparency. The Narwhal is also a founding member of Press Forward, Canada’s association for independent media, and a proud partner organization of Covering Climate Now, a collaborative global journalism project to bring more coverage to climate issues.

Factoid: Since launching in May 2018, The Narwhal has been the recipient of several awards. In 2021, The Narwhal won a World Press Freedom award, the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Jackman Award, a photojournalism award from the Canadian Association of Journalists, four National Magazine Awards and three Digital Publishing Awards, including gold for general excellence. In 2020, photographer Amber Bracken was awarded the Charles Bury President’s Award by the Canadian Association of Journalists for her outstanding contributions to journalism in Canada for her coverage of the Wet’suwet’en crisis for The Narwhal. 
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We congratulate all the recipients and nominees for their contributions to environmental stewardship in British Columbia. Thank you once again to our generous sponsor, West Coast Reduction.